Ben & Jerry’s will stop selling ice cream in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories by the end of next year. That decision has “serious consequences,” warns Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
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Sales in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are “not in line” with its own company values, according to the American ice cream producer.
Specifically, a long-term contract with a permanent licensee – who produces the ice cream in Israel and distributes it in the region, including the occupied territories – will not be renewed when it expires at the end of 2022. The company says it acknowledges “concerns our fans share with us” and will continue to sell “through another arrangement” in Israel.
New Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has reacted with displeasure to Ben & Jerry’s announcement. Bennett complained about the “blatant anti-Israel measure” in a telephone conversation with Alan Jope, CEO of parent company Unilever. “From an Israeli standpoint, this action has serious consequences, including legal ones, and will crack down on any boycott targeting civilians,” he said. Reuters Bennett according to his office.
Unilever has not yet responded to those threats.
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