Jewish Federation in Florida calls on grocers to stop carrying Ben & Jerry's products

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Jewish Federation of Broward County has called on all supermarket chains doing business in South Florida to discontinue carrying Ben & Jerry’s products in reaction to the ice cream company’s decision to halt sales in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Mark S. Freedman, the Federation’s interim president and chief executive officer, said, “Local South Florida supermarkets, small and large, are the main vehicle for sending a strong message to Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company, Unilever, that its selective boycott of Israel is unwarranted and unwise.”

“We encourage everyone in the supply chain – distributors, retailers and consumers – to refrain from doing business with Ben & Jerry’s,” Freedman continued. “By impacting its bottom line, we hope to apply enough pressure on Unilever to reverse its policy..”

However, Donna Nevel of Miami Beach, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace’s South Florida chapter, slammed the Federation for calling on supermarkets to discontinue Ben & Jerry’s products.

“Years of organizing for justice and liberation resulted in Ben and Jerry’s recognizing that their commitment to racial justice needed to include a commitment to justice for the Palestinian people,” Nevel said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/jewish-federation-in-florida-calls-on-grocers-to-stop-carrying-ben-and-jerrys-products/ar-AAMubuN

[Chainfire]

1. I am glad that is all they have to worry about.

You don't like their policies, don't buy their Ice Cream.

[Sherman A1]

2. I'll be buying some tomorrow

Just to support Ben and Jerry’s.

[JohnSJ]

3. All I know is after Hillary became the nominee, theyrefused to endorse her over trump, and would not

commit to vote for the Democratic nominee in 2016

That tells me everything I need to know about Ben and Jerry

Not selling their ice cream in the West Bank and Jerusalem, won’t do anything except deprive Palestinians from their ice cream. They are still selling it it Isresl

Like their position on Hillary, it didn’t help anyone, and this won’t help peace between Israel and the Palestinians

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2010/09/27/130158014/ben-jerry-s-takes-all-natural-claims-off-ice-cream-labels

[karynnj]

10. Your own link disagrees with you!

They supported Bernie in the primary and then Hillary in the general.

[JohnSJ]

16. Cohen would not commit

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/06/09/ben-jerry-split-whether-support-hillary-clinton/%3famp=1

[Crunchy Frog]

4. That reminds me. I need to get myself a few cartons of Ben & Jerry's.

[PlanetBev]

5. Mmmm 😋

Chunky Monkey 🐒🍌.

[mucifer]

6. Ben and Jerry's makes vegan ice cream so I can get some

[lpbk2713]

7. Ben's maybe, but not Jerry's.

OMFG. Get real.

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. They aren't boycotting Israel.

Their products are still available in Israel. They are not available in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which Israel continues to occupy in contravention of international law.

[former9thward]

14. Ben and Jerry's wants to boycott all of Israel

Its Unilever whch owns B&J that is boycotting the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The B&J Board wanted to boycott everything in Israel.

Ben & Jerry's board wanted to boycott all of Israel

Ben & Jerry's Independent Board of Directors wanted to boycott Israel in its entirety, but was stopped from doing so by the ice-cream maker's CEO and the British-based parent company Unilever.

"The statement released by Ben & Jerry's regarding its operation in Israel and the Occupied Palestine Territory does not reflect the position of the Independent Board nor was it approved by the Independent Board," read a statement by Ben & Jerry's Independent Board of Directors.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/ben-and-jerrys-board-wanted-to-boycott-all-of-israel-674405

[ProfessorGAC]

9. They're Boycotting B&J To Pressure...

...Unilever?
Good luck with that!
B&J is a tiny slice of Unilever.
One region in Florida boycotting one tiny segment of a huge corporation isn't much pressure.
I don't think they thought this through.

[former9thward]

15. 35 states have anti BDS laws.

Including states like CA, NY, NJ and IL. TX and FL are currently determining if the actions by Unilever violate the laws. If so their products would be banned in the state. NY Mayor DeBlasio has announced a boycott of B&J. Maybe Unilever has not thought this through.

[Spider Jerusalem]

18. Prior restraint on political speech seems kind of unconstitutional, no?

https://www.jurist.org/news/2021/05/federal-judge-finds-georgias-anti-bds-law-unconstitutional/

[former9thward]

20. We will see if that survives appeal.

Given that the majority of states have the laws and the State Department opposes the BDS movement, I doubt it will. A federal judge in Arkansas rejected an suit against their law but was reversed by the 8th Circuit, The issue most likely is headed to the SC. Regardless of what happens to the laws it will not stop calls for boycotts of those wanting to boycott Israel.

[Spider Jerusalem]

21. The State Department also opposed the anti-apartheid movement in the '70's and '80's

and the occupied territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem are not Israel.

And anti-BDS laws have been found unconstitutional in almost every instance where they've come to trial (and in most cases rewritten to narrow their scope to exempt the plaintiff in the original suit). .

[former9thward]

22. You are comparing the State Department of Reagan with Biden's ?

Ok,your views. The so-called occupied territories are Israel and Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

[Spider Jerusalem]

23. Not under international law they aren't.

And the State Department agrees that the West Bank is occupied territory.

[former9thward]

24. And the State Department (and Joe Biden) agree Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

People love to shout "international law" when it comes to Israel (although they become vague when asked for anything specific) but ignore international law when the Palestinians fire rockets into civilian areas, hide their military units under civilian cover and send suicide bombers into Israel to blow up teenagers in pizza parlors.

[Spider Jerusalem]

25. The US is the only country to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

There have been numerous UN resolutions since 1967, all of which affirm the fundamental illegitimacy of Israel's continued occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the fundamental illegitimacy of the settlements. There are plenty of specifics; the fact that you're ignorant of them doesn't make them go away. (I am also frankly rather appalled at your evident moral flexibility; your profile claims you're a "constitutional rights attorney", but hey, fuck the First Amendment if someone is using their free speech to engage in a boycott of Israel, I guess?)

[former9thward]

28. Anyone can boycott Israel if they want.

And I, and anyone else, am free to boycott those who boycott Israel. BTW the SC has long held commercial free speech is held to a lower standard than other free speech when it comes to restrictions. That is why cigarette manufacturers are forced to put a warning on their packs. That is what the BDS falls under.

[Spider Jerusalem]

40. again, anti-BDS laws have been found unconstitutional every time they've been challenged

this is something that you should be aware of. That you're actually defending a patently unconstitutional law tells me all I really need to know about the breadth and depth of your commitment to the Constitution. Why do you hate the First Amendment?

[former9thward]

41. There has only been a handful of cases.

And a federal judge in Arkansas found for the law although reversed on appeal. So you have a double "exaggeration" to put it kindly. And you know that. Unilever has far more to worry about when it comes to boycotts than the anti-BDS law. They are a consumer company.

Why stop at the First Amendment? Why not ask why I hate the Constitution?

[Crunchy Frog]

35. "The so-called occupied territories are Israel"

So how come millions of people living in Israel have no citizenship or equality under the law? Sounds a whole lot like apartheid to me.

[former9thward]

36. They do have citizenship and equality

Maybe you have never had the opportunity to visit Israel. Most Arabs have rejected citizenship. No one can force them to accept it. The Arab political parties have refused, until recently, to participate in the government.

The UN created Israel to be a Jewish state. It was never intended to be a one size fits all country. Just as all the countries which surround Israel are one religion states. Islam. Jews that lived in those countries were either killed or driven out. But somehow no one seems to think that is a big deal. Just Israel. I wonder why???

[Crunchy Frog]

37. You're a good fiction writer. nt

[Celerity]

38. +1

[ProfessorGAC]

26. Whoosh!

That sound is the point zooming over your head.
They're NOT banning or boycotting Unilever products. They're targeting B&J which is a blip in Unilever's cash flow.
Try reading for comprehension, next time.

[former9thward]

30. Try again.

B&J may be a "blip" in Unilever's cash flow but people will boycott any of their products. BTW if it is so insignificant why did they buy B&J in the first place? I guess they should have hired you to be their financial advisor.

[JohnSJ]

17. Lol. No kidding

[tavernier]

11. My criteria for buying ice cream is

Buy one get one free. Especially rocky road.

[Ilsa]

12. The Jewish Federation of Broward County

asks for too much sacrifice from their members!

[former9thward]

13. The U.S. State Department opposes the BDS movement.

While refusing to directy address the Ben and Jerry boycott they oppose the BDS movemnt against Israel.

US State Department vows to oppose BDS after Ben & Jerry’s settlement pullout

The US State Department on Tuesday reiterated the Biden administration’s opposition to the boycott Israel movement after Ben & Jerry’s announced it will stop selling ice cream in West Bank settlements, but refused to specifically address the Vermont-based firm’s decision.

“I don’t have a reaction to offer regarding the actions of a private company. More broadly what I would say is that we firmly reject the BDS movement, which unfairly singles out Israel,” spokesman Ned Price said during the daily briefing, using the initials for boycotts, divestment and sanctions.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-state-department-vows-to-oppose-bds-after-ben-jerrys-settlement-pullout/

Mayor de Blasio says he'll boycott Ben & Jerry's over Israel stance

"You cannot have peace if you undermine the economic reality and create division," de Blasio said. "I just believe it's the absolute wrong approach and I don't think Ben & Jerry's should be doing that."

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says Ben & Jerry's has decided to brand itself as the "anti-Israel ice cream."

He says its decision will have serious consequences for the company, and its parent company Unilever.

https://abc7ny.com/ben--jerrys-mayor-bill-de-blasio-jerry-boycott-isreal/10900384/

[JohnSJ]

19. BDS is a ploy to cover its real intentions which are not a two state solution

[Hortensis]

32. So do I. I want us to do everything we honorably can to help Israeli liberals,

of all religions and power blocs, overthrow government domination by Israel's conservative "trumpist" types. Nations aren't bad -- but some people in every nation will always abuse others if they can, and when very bad things happen to hapless people you know they've gotten control.

Many well-meaning ignorant people mistakenly believe BDM is a moral movement; but it's actually heavily fueled and weaponized by both antisemites and anti-Israel interests. Muslims and Jews in Palestine should all have the same rights and opportunities. But too many BDM pushers don't want that, and many openly advocate against a two-state solution -- they want Israel erased.

I've been disgusted a number of times by ardent BDMers who couldn't discuss even one of the tragically oppressed peoples in virtually every other nation in the ME, much less with even a fraction of outrage reserved for Israel alone. There are movements trying to help all those millions of people, so why don't these people know it and even join one?

“I don’t have a reaction to offer regarding the actions of a private company. More broadly what I would say is that we firmly reject the BDS movement, which unfairly singles out Israel.” Our State Department's position.

Yes, but I'd prefer they aso explained WHY it singles out Israel.

[Unwind Your Mind]

27. Hot tip

Ben & Jerry’s is making these things called slices. Picture a slice from a pint, dipped in chocolate. The Cherry Garcia one is super delicious 😋

[former9thward]

31. The Mayor of New York is one less customer of that flavor.

"I can say that I won’t be eating anymore Cherry Garcia for awhile,” de Blasio said, referring to the brand’s popular flavor.

He added, “That’s sad to me. I don’t know them well, but I’ve met them over the years and I think they’re good people, literally Ben and Jerry. I think they’re good people with good values, but this is a mistake. They shouldn’t do this.”

https://www.tampafp.com/i-wont-be-eating-anymore-cherry-garcia-for-awhile-de-blasio-calls-ben-jerrys-israel-boycott-a-mistake/

[Mosby]

29. NY pension fund puts Unilever on notice over Ben & Jerry's sales ban

The main pension fund for New York’s state government workers and retirees warned Ben & Jerry’s parent company, Unilever, on Friday that it might restrict its investments in the company because of the ice cream maker’s decision to halt sales in Israeli-occupied territories.

In a letter obtained by The Post, Liz Gordon, executive director of corporate governance for the $254.8 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund, informed Unilever CEO Alan Jope that state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli “is troubled and concerned” by Ben & Jerry’s announcement.

Gordon noted that the state pension fund has a policy of restricting investments in companies involved in the anti-Israel boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, and reports suggest that “Ben & Jerry’s, a Unilever wholly owned subsidiary, is involved in BDS activities.”

https://nypost.com/2021/07/23/ny-pension-fund-puts-unilever-on-notice-for-ben-jerrys-sales-ban/

[theophilus]

33. Some in power seem to be content straining out gnats and swallowing

camels. The culture war issues are what many use to imbue dumb to the plebs. Where else do we see this? There is definitely a pattern. There is "free" speech if you are prepared to "suffer the consequences". The same goes for disagreeing with the powerful. Stand right up and speak your truth and then be shot down or cancelled. Sad. The sheep will be shorn.

[Mosby]

39. Ben and Jerry's Malaysia

Link to tweet

This obsession some have with Israel is not helpful. Get a new hobby, folks.