Ben & Jerry's to Continue Sales in Israel, West Bank
The Facts
Ben & Jerry's parent company, Unilever, has reached a deal to continue selling the ice cream in Israel and the occupied West Bank, despite objections from the ice cream makers.
Ben & Jerry's announced last summer that their agreement with Israeli licensee, American Quality Products (AQP), wouldn't be renewed after expiring at the end of 2022. The ice cream would continue to be sold in Israel "through a different arrangement," they said, but sales would be halted in "occupied Palestinian territory."
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank is illegal. Ben & Jerry's has every right to protest this, and their activism shouldn't be undermined. Unilever is putting profits ahead of people. Other companies should follow Ben & Jerry's and use their platforms to speak out against human rights violations like those in Israel.
Pro-Israel narrative
Ben & Jerry's efforts to prevent sales in Israel were anti-semitic, and this decision reaffirms that no amount or form of anti-semitism is ever acceptable. This is a victory for Israel and Israeli jobs.