Ben & Jerry throw the Israeli goverment into turmoil
Published
by
Richard Kuper
JVL Introduction
Beneath all the bluster and wild accusations of economic terrorism and antisemitism, the Israeli government is seriously worried by the Ben & Jerry decision not to sell their ice cream in the occupied territories.
They have mobilised their diplomatic missions in North America and Europe to exert all pressure possible to reverse it.
We must make sure they don’t succeed. So add another tub of Ben & Jerry’s to your shopping basket every time!
This article was originally published by Axios on Tue 27 Jul 2021. Read the original here.
Scoop: Israel launches maximum pressure campaign against Ben & Jerry's
The Israeli government has formed a special task force to pressure Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and its parent company Unilever to reverse their decision to boycott Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israeli officials tell me.
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I’m happy to report that Jewish dissidents held a Ben & Jerry’s picnic in a Newcastle park on 31 July.
I bought the Caramel Chew Chew, the Baked Alaska and the Chocolate Fudge Brownie. In our home freezer (unlike the Sainsbury’s display cabinet which is always frosting up)…”I can see clearly now…” how right B&J are to withhold their fine product from those fortresses of ethnic cleansing and theft, not to mention of exporting pogroms to Arab-majority areas and casual murder…which the Labour Party tops are so keen to defend. Ready to eat more…are YOU?
B & J’s a bit sweet for my taste, but now definitely on my shopping list. Must check if the Co-op sells it.
Great action, I hope it holds. And I hope it puts pressure on other companies to consider more ethical behaviour.
To paraphrase an old saying: “Revenge is sweeter when it’s served cold.”
I have, and will, continue to by a couple of extra tubs every week in solidarity. (plus it’s great ice cream)
I shop online and Ben & Jerry’s are now in my favourite items list and part of my weekly shop. I’ve also found that a great many of my friends are adding Ben & Jerry’s to their weekly shops. Something tells me this was a smart move by Ben & Jerry’s and it wouldn’t surprise me if other businesses now cotton on that it’s in their best interest to do the right thing and stop doing business in the occupied territories.
I hope other companies will follow B&J/Unilever and realise that not only is it ethical but it’s also profitable to divest from having any involvement in not just the illegal settlements, but also in the apartheid racist State of Israel.
SOLIDARITY FOREVER
SOLIDARITY with Palestinians everywhere
In a recent YouGov survey 2 in 3 Labour members supported BDS applied to companies working in the illegal Israeli settlements.
In another survey a similar proportion of informed US Democrat voters supported a broader BDS against Israel.
It seems Democrat leaders are out of phase with their grassroots, and it has been suggested the pro-Israel Party position on Israel is influenced by the dominance of Zionist donors.
Of course in both our countries politicians and activists who support BDS are labelled as ‘antisemitic’, and maybe Biden and Starmer do not challenge this as it comforts their position.
Perhaps the tide is turning and both leaders need to consider whether they really want to remain on the wrong side of history, and unlike activists deny the values of social justice upon which their Parties were founded.
I was a Haagen Daz ice cream customer, but since Ben & Jerry made the announcement of the company joining BDS I have switched to Ben & Jerry, their ice cream is very good too.
We need to ensure that Ben & Jerry profits don’t suffer but, if possible do better in order to encourage other companies to join BDS.
No wonder the Israeli government is worried. Well done Ben & Jerry.
Let’s hope there are more Ben and Jerry’s to throw Israel into turmoil. Petitions and declarations are to be welcomed, but concrete acts of solidarity are sorely needed to defeat Israeli settler colonialism.
Would love to hear more about the picnic in Newcastle, and possibly even get a report on it put in ‘the Word’ – would really appreciate Benny or anyone messaging me on FB about it – would be a cracking idea for others to follow 🙂