Israel vows to 'act aggressively' against Ben & Jerry's

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Israel vows to ‘act aggressively’ against Ben & Jerry’s

By JOSEF FEDERMAN
July 20, 2021

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister vowed Tuesday to “act aggressively” against the decision by Ben & Jerry’s to stop selling its ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories, as the country’s ambassador to the U.S. urged dozens of state governors to punish the company under anti-boycott laws.

The strong reaction reflected concerns in Israel that the ice cream maker’s decision could lead other companies to follow suit. It also appeared to set the stage for a protracted public relations and legal battle.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office said he spoke with Alan Jope, chief executive of Ben & Jerry’s parent company Unilever, and raised concern about what he called a “clearly anti-Israel step.” He said the move would have “serious consequences, legal and otherwise,” and Israel “will act aggressively against all boycott actions directed against its citizens.”

In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price declined to comment directly on the company’s decision. But he said the U.S. rejects the boycott movement against Israel, saying it “unfairly singles out” the country.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/ben-jerrys-israel-west-bank-east-jerusalem-879a896549a304ba34223a95a593c391

[Mike Nelson]

1. I think...

... I "get" what they are trying to do... but I'm not sure this is a productive step. Doesn't this just hurt ordinary, civilian Palestinians? I'm supposing Ben & Jerrys supports making their life easier?

[DBoon]

3. If anyone could use a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

It is the Palestinians

[Israeli]

9. Which Palestinians Mike

and in which Area of the West Bank ?????

Do me a favor please and read all of this :

Yes, take away our ice cream

Of course I want to live in a reality where Israelis recognize and work to end the occupation. But we don't, so we need companies like Ben & Jerry's to scoop up our Chunky Monkey.

@ https://www.972mag.com/ben-jerrys-occupation/

The answer is no. The residents of Humsa do not have Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in their freezers. In fact, they don’t have freezers or refrigerators. Their village doesn’t even have electricity. Like most of the shepherding communities in Area C of the West Bank — under full Israeli military control — and like many other Palestinian communities across the occupied territories living in what the IDF has declared “live-fire zones,” the residents of Humsa have no option of connecting to an electricity grid. They cannot build homes or tents or use the water infrastructure, because Israel rejects 98.6 percent of Palestinians’ requests for building permits on their land.

[Mike Nelson]

11. Thank you...

... this helps clarify.

[Mosby]

14. +972 is a anti-israel website, who think the country shouldn't exist.

There are people here who don't think Jews should be able to live in Judea and Samaria, and that the future country of Palestine should be completely free of Jews. Further, they believe this is a progressive position to take.

[Mike Nelson]

15. That's sad...

... I want the Palestinians and Jews to live together, in peace. I know there are people who want the other side gone... this is an ongoing tragedy. I wish the US could help.

[Israeli]

16. That's very sad

It's also not true .

[Me.]

4. Legal?

THey don't have to sell ice cream to anyone they don't want to

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

7. Exactly. They are a private business.

The butthurt Israelis need to quit whining about this. There are other ice cream brands they can eat.

[Mosby]

8. The ban is in the West Bank and e jlem

So it's the Palestinians who don't get Ben and Jerry's.

Kinda bizarre.

[Israeli]

10. Its only Palestinians in the

West Bank and East Jerusalem Mosby ?
Really ????

[Mosby]

13. Ben and Jerry's want to stop selling ice cream in ALL of Israel

But Unilever, the parent company stopped them.

[clementine613]

12. So, B&J has the right to sell ice cream to whomever they want....

... and Israelis have no right to voice their opinions on the matter?

Which right do you think is more important?

[Israeli]

17. Personally I think all opinions should be heard

J Street have a few articles on the subject , this one is very educational :

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BEN & JERRY’S ISRAEL DEBATE

@ https://jstreet.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-ben-jerrys-israel-debate/#.YPp6Xqjivb0

At J Street, as a pro-Israel, pro-peace organization that wants to see a peaceful end to the occupation and a better future for both peoples, we’re speaking out because everyone has the right to choose not to financially participate in the occupation and settlements — and to do so without being subject to punishment under the law or defamatory smears. We cannot allow supporters of Palestinian rights and critics of the occupation and settlements to be intimidated into silence when they raise their voices about real threats to Palestinian rights and Israel’s future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people.

Rather than attack an ice cream company for making a principled decision about where and how it does business, we must instead confront the terrible cycle of injustice, retaliation and violence that undermines the rights of all Israelis and Palestinians to live in freedom, security and self-determination.

[RainCaster]

5. They need to make the "Isreali Bacon Bagle" flavor

That would really make them twist their undies.

[Firestorm49]

6. I'd be more concerned about Pegasus. Ice cream?

Sounds like a Trumpist dodge.