Ben & Jerry’s to End Sales in Occupied Palestinian Territory after Backlash

By Staff, Agencies

Ben & Jerry's announced Monday plans to end sales of their ice cream in the “Israeli”-occupied West Bank and east al-Quds [Jerusalem], following two months of silence from the company on social media in the face of public backlash.

The Vermont-born ice cream company has faced an international boycott due to outrage over the company's ties to the “Israeli” entity amidst rising global tensions.

Ben & Jerry’s has a factory in the “Israeli” entity’s settlement of Be’er Tuviya and has conducted business with the entity since 1987. The brand, which was found in Vermont in 1978 but is currently owned by consumer goods conglomerate Unilever, typically markets itself as upholding progressive values and publicizing support for social justice movements.

"We believe it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory," the company said in a statement posted on its website Monday. "We also hear and recognize the concerns shared with us by our fans and trusted partners."

Human Rights Watch, an international humanitarian organization that researches and advocates for human rights, stated in a recent report that the “Israeli” entity’s actions have amounted to committing crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution against Palestinians.

The announcement – posted on Ben & Jerry's Twitter and Instagram accounts and website – was one of the strongest and highest-profile rebukes by a well-known company of the entity’s policy of settling its citizens on war-won lands. The settlements are widely seen by the international community as illegal and obstacles to “peace”.

Ben & Jerry's will not renew its license agreement with a longstanding partner that manufactured and distributed ice cream in the “Israeli” entity. The license expires at the end of next year.

However, while the company is halting sales in Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ben & Jerry's stated it will stay in the “Israeli” entity “through a different arrangement” and “share an update on this as soon as we’re ready”.