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A boycott campaign launched by GOP officials in several states erupted this week against ice cream maker Ben & Jerrys, after an earlier decision by the company to stop selling its products in Israeli-occupied territory.
The Vermont-based brand, which has a long history of taking a socially responsible position, issued a statement saying it was “inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” which included the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
According to the Associated Press, “Israel annexed East Jerusalem after the 1967 war and regards the entire city as its undivided capital, although the annexation is not internationally recognized. He says the West Bank is disputed territory and its final status should be resolved through negotiations. . The international community, however, largely regards both areas as occupied territories. “
The two founders of the company, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, are Jewish.
Ben & Jerry’s has a pretty unique deal with its parent company, international giant Unilever, which allows the board to take controversial positions. To date, the decision is one of the strongest positions an American company has taken against Israel, traditionally one of America’s closest allies.
The backlash was quick and hard.
In response to the move, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a threatening statement, promising to “act aggressively” against the company – even going so far as to call a targeted boycott. “a new form of terrorism. “
The decision to stop selling ice cream in what Israel calls “disputed territory” has also infuriated elected officials from both parties – Biden’s White House lamented that Ben & Jerry’s was “unfairly” targeting Israel – but especially lawmakers and conservative pundits, who have aggressively aligned with Israel in recent years.
Texas and Florida, led by two of the GOP’s best-known governors, said they are currently exploring tough actions like a coordinated divestment campaign or even an outright ban.
The two executives wasted no time in denouncing the company’s initial statement.
“Ben and Jerry’s decision to boycott parts of Israel is shameful and an insult to America’s closest ally in the Middle East,” read a statement from the Texas governor’s office Tuesday night. , Greg Abbot. “Unilever, the parent company of Ben and Jerry, must reverse this ill-conceived decision.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has placed Unilever under state control, saying that “Florida has a long history of strong relations with the State of Israel”, adding that “in law and in principle, the State of Florida does not not tolerate discrimination against the state. Israel or the Israeli people, including boycotts and divestments against Israel.
More than 30 U.S. states have laws prohibiting pension funds from investing in companies that refuse to do business with Israel – though it’s not clear whether Ben & Jerry’s action this week qualifies, legally speaking. In its initial statement, the company said it would not renew its local license with a longtime Israeli partner, but agreed to continue selling its products in the rest of the country “through a different agreement.”
Nonetheless, Republican officials in Florida and Texas have both said they are discussing remedies to pursue against the ice cream maker, including a possible divestment of state resources. Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar even went so far as to suggest a statewide ban on the company’s products.
Fox News has also repeatedly criticized Ben & Jerry’s for the action, with many hosts calling on viewers to stop buying the brand.
“I wish we could go back to the days when companies were selling products instead of virtue signals,” lamented Fox host Tomi Lahren. “I don’t believe in the culture of cancellation, but it’s time to look at these companies and say, what exactly do you stand for? “”
This wasn’t the first time the network has rebelled against the decidedly progressive company, with another recent controversy sparked over Ben & Jerry’s ice cream Colin Kaepernick, who sought to celebrate the former player’s protest. of the NFL against police brutality.
AirBnB also found itself in a similar situation just a few years ago when the online house rental company announced in 2018 that it would no longer list properties in the occupied West Bank. The company reversed its decision a few months later in the face of strong criticism.
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