London, Europe Brief News – Ben & Jerry’s has strongly condemned resumption of sales in Israeli settlements by its parent company Unilever.
In a series of tweets, the firm said it does “not agree” with a deal by its parent company Unilever that allows its ice cream to continue being sold in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The firm said it still believed it was “inconsistent with Ben & Jerry’s values for our ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” – a position welcomed by many Palestinians.
Israel praised Unilever’s reversal of last year’s decision by Ben & Jerry’s to stop such sales as a victory against discrimination and anti-Semitism.
Unilever’s decision came after legal action from its Israeli licensee American Quality Products (AQP) and its owner Avi Zinger, who were seeking damages from the UK-based consumer goods giant. Their contract had been due to expire at the end of this year anyway.
There was also pressure against the withdrawal from shareholders, including activist investor Nelson Peltz, and politicians in the United States.
Unilever said in a statement on Wednesday that it was now selling its Ben & Jerry’s business interests in Israel to Mr Zinger.
The new arrangement means the firm will be sold under its Hebrew and Arabic names throughout Israel and the West Bank under the full ownership of the current licensee.
