Ben & Jerry’s will no longer boycott Israel, its parent company Unilever announced on Wednesday, after reaching a settlement with the ice cream company’s Israeli license.
All this after a year long legal battling over a settlement boycott, the two sides announced on Wednesday.
Upcoming PM of Israel Yair Lapid shared the following statement:
The Ben & Jerry’s factory in Israel is a microcosm of the diversity of Israeli society. Today’s victory is a victory for all those who know that the struggle against BDS is, first and foremost, a struggle for partnership and dialogue, and against discrimination and hate.
See the letter (below) CEO Alan Jope sent this morning: “Antisemitism has no place in any society. We have never expressed any support for the BDS movement and have no intention of changing that position.”
BREAKING: Unilever breaks the Ben & Jerry's boycott of Israel! See the letter CEO Alan Jope sent me this morning: “Antisemitism has no place in any society. We have never expressed any support for the BDS movement and have no intention of changing that position.” pic.twitter.com/lEVt3MTkxL
— William Daroff (@Daroff) June 29, 2022
The Ben & Jerry's factory in Israel is a microcosm of the diversity of Israeli society. Today’s victory is a victory for all those who know that the struggle against BDS is, first and foremost, a struggle for partnership and dialogue, and against discrimination and hate. pic.twitter.com/rvHuqKun08
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid🟠 (@yairlapid) June 29, 2022
Unilever, Ben & Jerry’s parent company, condemned the BDS movement saying, “Antisemitism has no place in any society. We have never expressed any support for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement and have no intention of changing that position.” https://t.co/xnG5QsCANs
— (((noa tishby))) (@noatishby) June 29, 2022
“We have never expressed any support for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement and have no intention of changing that position.” – Unilever
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) June 29, 2022
Israel 1
BDS 0Ben & Jerry's Unilever cancels its plan to stop sales in Judea and Samaria.
Big victory for Israel against the boycott Israel movement. Companies understand that standing against Israel is losing big time. pic.twitter.com/FvCnnw3pC2
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) June 29, 2022
Read the full statement from Unilever below:
Unilever today announced it has reached a new arrangement for Ben & Jerry’s in Israel which will ensure the ice cream stays available to all consumers.
The company has sold its Ben & Jerry’s business interests in Israel to Avi Zinger, the owner of American Quality Products Ltd (AQP), the current Israel-based licensee. The new arrangement means Ben & Jerry’s will be sold under its Hebrew and Arabic names throughout Israel and the West Bank under the full ownership of its current licensee.
Under the terms of Unilever’s acquisition agreement of Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, Ben & Jerry’s and its independent Board were granted rights to take decisions about its social mission, but Unilever reserved primary responsibility for financial and operational decisions and therefore has the right to enter this arrangement.
The new business arrangement follows a Unilever review of Ben & Jerry’s in Israel after the brand and its independent Board announced last year its decision to discontinue sales of its ice cream in the West Bank.
Unilever has used the opportunity of the past year to listen to perspectives on this complex and sensitive matter and believes this is the best outcome for Ben & Jerry’s in Israel. The review included extensive consultation over several months, including with the Israeli Government.
Unilever rejects completely and repudiates unequivocally any form of discrimination or intolerance. Antisemitism has no place in any society. We have never expressed any support for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement and have no intention of changing that position.
Unilever is very proud of our business in Israel which supplies everyday household products to people across the country. Today, Unilever Israel employs around 2,000 people of diverse backgrounds, has four local manufacturing plants, and works with a network of around 2,000 local suppliers and service providers – helping to support the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Israelis across its value chain.
Over the last decade, Unilever has invested more than 1 billion Shekels (around €250 million) in our business in Israel. We look forward to continuing to make a positive contribution to Israel’s economy and society for many decades to come, and hope that Israelis and Palestinians can reach a peaceful resolution of their conflict.