In a major blow to the BDS movement, Unilever has reversed course, and Ben and Jerry’s will continue to operate in the West Bank settlements.
The company made a special arrangement which will keep the brand fully operational in West Bank settlements. Unilever has sold its Ben & Jerry’s business interests in Israel to Avi Zinger, current operator of the company in Israel.
The new arrangement means Ben & Jerry’s ice cream will be sold throughout Israel and Judea and Samaria.
The decision comes following a Unilever review of Ben & Jerry’s in Israel after last year’s announcement that the brand would cease operations in Judea and Samaria.
Last year’s announcement that the company would no longer operate in West Bank settlements cost the company $26 billion.
The company issued the following statement:
“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”.
Under the terms of Unilever’s acquisition of Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, Ben & Jerry’s retained the rights to decisions about its “social mission” but Unilever reserved its authority over financial and operational decisions and therefore is allowed to enter this new arrangement.
1 comment:
Watch Unilever stock go up in the next couple of weeks, as we can all go back to just buying the shampoo we prefer, without thinking about politics!!
The push back to woke capitalism is in full swing, Airbnb, Netflix, and now Unilever have already retreated back to the business world...and im sure Disney is considering a surrender as well.
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