Ben & Jerry’s rebukes company guardian, saying the sale of its ice cream within the West Financial institution is ‘in opposition to its values’

Final yr Ben & Jerry’s board stated it was going to cease promoting its ice cream in annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Financial institution, saying the gross sales within the territories sought by the Palestinians are “inconsistent with our values.” The settlements are broadly seen by the worldwide neighborhood as unlawful and obstacles to peace.

Client items large Unilever, which purchased Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, introduced earlier this yr that it was promoting its enterprise curiosity in Israel to a neighborhood firm that might promote Ben & Jerry’s ice cream underneath its Hebrew and Arabic identify all through Israel and the West Financial institution.

Ben & Jerry’s impartial board stated in a press release Tuesday that Unilever’s sale was made with out the board’s consent and any merchandise bought by Blue & White Ice Cream Ltd. “shouldn’t be confused with merchandise produced and distributed by Ben & Jerry’s Do-it-yourself Inc.”

“Ben & Jerry’s place is obvious: the sale of merchandise bearing any Ben & Jerry’s insignia within the Occupied Palestinian Territory is in opposition to our values,” the assertion stated.

An e mail despatched to London-based Unilever was not instantly returned Tuesday, however the firm has stated prior to now it did have the precise to the sale and famous that the deal had closed.

The 2000 acquisition settlement allowed the Ben & Jerry’s board to make selections concerning the firm’s social mission nevertheless it stipulated Unilever would have the ultimate phrase on monetary and operational selections.

In August, a federal choose rejected Ben & Jerry’s request to dam a plan by Unilever to permit its merchandise to be bought in east Jerusalem and the occupied West Financial institution. The choose stated Ben & Jerry’s failed to indicate that Unilever’s determination would damage Ben and Jerry’s social mission or confuse its prospects.