opinion
Ben & Jerry’s ‘Victory’
Is a Hollow One
BY NAOMI GRANT
J ewish organizations far and
wide, the state of Israel and even
American politicians have rejoiced
over Unilever’s decision to sell Ben &
Jerry’s to a local franchisee, thereby
resuming the sale of its ice cream in
the West Bank.

While it is nice to see a major
company standing up to BDS and
indirectly contributing to the Israeli
economy, this widely hailed “vic-
tory” against the BDS movement
and antisemitism comes with many
caveats. American Quality Products owner
Avi Zinger previously enjoyed exclu-
sive rights to Ben & Jerry’s in Israel
before his license was not renewed
due to his continuing to sell in the
West Bank. Following his win in
an Israeli federal court, Zinger will A view of the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory and corporate headquarters 
John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images via JTA.org
resume sales in all of Israel in perpe-
tuity in Hebrew and Arabic.

But not in English.

A lawsuit was also filed against
Unilever this month in the United
States alleging that it had “concealed
a boycott of Israel by its Ben &
Jerry’s ice-cream brand that shaved
billions off its stock market value,”
JNS reported.

Due to violations of state anti-boycott laws, a feel-good statement that doesn’t even directly
Refusing to sell ice cream in certain areas (limit-
Arizona, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York condemn antisemitism; rather, it condemns “any ing options for the Arabs whom the company pur-
and Texas had divested a combined $1 billion in form of discrimination or intolerance” and asserts ports to champion, no less) was not enough; Ben
pension-fund investments from Unilever.

that “antisemitism has no place in any society.”
& Jerry’s has now implemented an indoctrina-
However, Ben & Jerry’s founders said they still
The statement doesn’t even stand against BDS; tion system into new employee orientation. They
believe it is “inconsistent with Ben & Jerry’s val- it says, almost as a disclaimer: “We have never somehow found a way to politicize something like
ues for our ice cream to be sold in the Occupied expressed any support for the Boycott Divestment ice cream, previously among the least politicized,
Palestinian Territory,” which is completely missing Sanctions (BDS) movement and have no intention least controversial industries on Earth.

the point.

of changing that position,” instead of actually tak-
Jewish Insider reported on Ben & Jerry’s new
Jews have lived in Judea and Samaria (what ing a stand against BDS.

system of indoctrination on June 13; it seems
is today called the West Bank) for about 3,000
Perhaps the worst is yet to come: Ben & Jerry’s likely that Ben & Jerry’s knew Unilever was about
years; only in recent history — from 1948 to 1967 apparently now requires new employees to watch to sell brand rights in Israel, enabling the sale of
— were Jews prohibited from living there, which videos on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at least ice cream in the entirety of the country, and acted
was apparently long enough for antisemites to one of which features Human Rights Watch Israel- preemptively.

concoct a patently false narrative about the land Palestine Director Omar Shakir.

Now is no time to rejoice with ice cream, but
belonging to “Palestinian” Arabs.

Shakir was expelled from Israel and partici- rather to continue holding Ben & Jerry’s account-
In other words, Unilever is off the hook in the pated in a June 2021 conference that also hosted able — this time, for indoctrination. JE
eyes of Jewish organizations and Ben & Jerry’s participants from the likes of Hamas, Islamic
boycotters for any controversy because they sold Jihad, Hezbollah, and the Popular Front for the Naomi Grant is the director of communications at
the Endowment for Middle East Truth.

Israeli rights to the Ben & Jerry’s brand and put out Liberation of Palestine.

While it is nice to see a major company standing up to BDS
... this widely hailed “victory” against the BDS movement
and antisemitism comes with many caveats.

16 JULY 7, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM