The Unilever ice-cream brand, known for its years of advocacy, has come under fire after announcing that Ben & Jerry’s products will not be sold in the settlements after the agreement with its Israeli franchisee expires next year.
Last week, Ben & Jerry’s – owned by Unilever – announced it was going to stop selling its ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and contested east Jerusalem.
According to the Vermont-based ice cream maker, the decision followed “concerns shared with us by our fans and trusted partners” and made selling products in the occupied territories “inconsistent with our values”.
The statement also said the company will not renew its agreement with its Israeli franchisee when it expires next year.
While Ben & Jerry’s products will not be sold in the settlements, the company confirmed its presence in Israel through a different arrangement.
Progressive activists have long called on Ben & Jerry’s to sever its ties to the controversial Israeli settlements. The ice-cream giant has also faced a 10-year campaign led by the Pro-Palestinian advocacy group, Vermonters for Justice in Palestine.
The organisation’s spokesperson Ian Stokes said in a statement: “How much longer will Ben & Jerry’s permit its Israeli-manufactured ice cream to be sold in Jewish-only settlements while Palestinian land is being confiscated, Palestinian homes are being destroyed, and Palestinian families in neighbourhoods like Sheik Jarrah are facing eviction to make way for Jewish settlers?”
Social-driven activism
The brand, which has been serving up chilled dairy desserts since 1978 is known for supporting a litany of cause-driven movements such as Black Lives Matter, refugee rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and global warming.
It has also supported the vegan movement with its ever-growing range of plant-based ice-creams.
Currently, it offers 21 vegan flavours, many of which have been launched with a social cause attached to it such as Colin Kaepernick’s inspired Change the Whirled, Phish Food, Save Our Swirled NOW! and more.
Debate
Ben & Jerry’s latest announcement has become a hot topic of debate and divided opinions online.
The ice cream giant is already facing a punishing pushback by the Israeli government, which has also threatened legal action over the boycott.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett accused the company of supporting “terrorists”, and warned Unilever, of “severe consequences”.
Yair Lapid is the Israeli Foreign Minister. He said Ben & Jerry’s move is a “disgraceful capitulation” to anti-Semitism and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement – a pro-Palestinian movement, which calls for freedom, justice, equality and a complete boycott of Israel.
Gilad Erdan, Israeli envoy to the US and UN, said: “Businesses are surrendering to BDS pressure and bringing anti-Israel political considerations into their decisions.”
Meanwhile, BDS applauded Ben & Jerry’s decision and said it is “a decisive step towards ending the company’s complicity in Israel’s occupation and violation of Palestinian rights”.
Others also expressed their support with one social media user saying: “Thank you! I hate ice cream, but for now and on! I’m buying all ben & jerry’s products in the supermarket!”
Another added: “Well done Ben & Jerry’s for standing out for human rights ..you did the right thing.”
“THANK YOU! I’m a proud Jewish American and I’m going to go buy your ice cream to support this!” a third commented.
Share this story: Ben and Jerry’s targeted for taking a stand against Israel’s controversial ‘illegal settlements’.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Gordon Ramsay Ditches Vegan Hate and Backs Flora’s Plant-Based Butter in New ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 28th January 2025
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, once infamous for his digs at vegans, has taken a sharp turn in the kitchen. Ramsay has teamed up with Flora, the famous UK-based spread brand, as its global ambassador, marking a bold new chapter in Flora’s “Skip the Cow” campaign. Flora, established in 1964, has long been a household name …
The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 27th January 2025
Latin America is experiencing an extraordinary rise in plant-based dining options. A new study, spearheaded by Veganuary in partnership with the food discovery platform HappyCow, reveals that Latin America now boasts over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants—an impressive 21.6% jump compared to last year. Brazil takes the crown as the number one country, with …
Continue reading “The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God