By: Aryeh Savir
Israel’s leadership across the political spectrum reacted with anger to Ben & Jerry’s announcement that it was ending its contract to produce ice cream in the Jewish state in a move to end the sale of its ice cream in “occupied Palestine.”
Ben & Jerry’s announced Monday that it was ending sales in Israel as “we believe it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
“We have informed our licensee that we will not renew the license agreement when it expires at the end of next year,” the company said.
Avi Zinger, the Israeli license owner, refused Ben and Jerry’s demand to end the Israeli company’s sale of its product in Judea and Samaria. Ben & Jerry’s in Israel announced that it will continue to sell the Israeli-produced ice cream throughout Israel and will not succumb to the pressure and boycott by Unilever and the global Ben & Jerry’s.
“Ice cream is not part of politics,” the company said.
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, stated that Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria “will exist long after Ben & Jerry’s ice cream melts and disappears from the world.”
“We will not give up Samaria, the ancient kingdom of Israel, for ice cream, nor the altar of Joshua or ancient Shiloh for a McDonald’s burger,” he declared.
“We will not give in to this anti-Semitism, we will not succumb to threats from either left-wing organizations or commercial companies that are willing to boycott Israel to flatter certain people. We will continue to build Samaria to enjoy a culture of good education and also ice cream. Not necessarily Ben & Jerry’s,” he added.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted “Now we Israelis know which ice cream NOT to buy.”
The head of the Beit El Council, Shai Alon, suggested that “it is better for Ben & Jears to focus on making ice cream and not on preaching morality. It is doubtful if they even know where the areas they are talking about are on the map. The people of Israel and the settlement in Judea and Samaria have survived worse than an ice cream boycott.”
Member of Knesset Ruth Wasserman Landa tweeted that “to think that Ben & Jerry’s – a company originally founded by two Jews – chose to add a new flavor – a bad taste of BDS. Disappointing!”
MK Miki Zohar said that while “Israel will not miss Ben & Jerry’s, Ben & Jerry’s will miss Israel.”
(TPS)
