The mayor of a city in New Jersey the place Ben & Jerry’s proprietor Unilever is headquartered has blasted the ice cream agency for its vow to cease promoting ice cream within the West Financial institution to boycott Israeli settlements.
Ben & Jerry’s has been embroiled in an ongoing saga of boycotts and criticism after the corporate launched an announcement on July 19 that promoting ice cream in ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’ was ‘inconsistent with our values.’
British client items conglomerate Unilever, which has its U.S. headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, was despatched a letter concerning the ice cream maker’s resolution on Monday by Mayor Mario M. Kranjac, obtained by DailyMail.com.
‘Not solely is that this transfer disturbing, however it’s also a violation of New Jersey’s anti-BDS legal guidelines,’ Kranjac wrote within the Monday letter.
He added: ‘I strongly encourage you to reevaluate your organization’s place and to deal with everybody pretty with out the advantage signaling that in the end creates unfair remedy.’
The mayor wrote that Englewood Cliffs stays ‘grateful’ for Unilever making its headquarters in the neighborhood, he referred to as Ben & Jerry’s actions ‘discrimination’ and mentioned the corporate has ‘gone too far.’
Mayor Mario M. Kranjac, the city’s mayor pictured, despatched a letter to Unilever on Monday about Ben & Jerry’s resolution to cease ice cream gross sales within the West Financial institution
‘Discrimination of any form won’t be tolerated,’ Kranjac wrote. ‘Englewood Cliffs is a superb place to work and dwell, and we welcome all lawful companies massive and small, and all residents.’
Kranjac referred to as Israel ‘probably the most democratic and free nations on the planet.’
‘It’s a beacon of freedom within the Center East, and considered one of America’s biggest allies,’ the mayor mentioned.
‘It considerations me that your organization is so fast to chastise Israel, whereas persevering with to assist and revenue from different nations and actions that day by day commit substantial human rights violations, genocide, illegal imprisonment, pressured ‘re-education’, and race-based classifications.’
He added that Englewood Cliffs ‘stands with Israel’ and ‘won’t stay silent.’
‘In truth, we are going to stand with anybody that’s wrongly focused. I strongly encourage you to rethink your resolution on this matter and so as to add vitality to all lives,’ the mayor wrote, whereas referencing the corporate’s company mission.
Kranjac referred to as Ben & Jerry’s resolution ‘advantage signaling’ and questioned why it nonetheless sells ice cream to different nations with appalling human rights data.
Ben & Jerrys stills sells ice cream in China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria, whose governments have all been condemned for appalling human rights abuses.
A spokesperson for the mayor additional described the letter to DailyMail.com as ‘threatening authorized recourse’ towards Unilever and mentioned that city officers could be introducing a decision concerning the corporate on Wednesday night.
Ben & Jerry’s is owned by British client items conglomerate Unilever, which has its U.S. headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, pictured
Ben & Jerry’s has been embroiled in an ongoing saga of boycotts and criticism after the corporate launched an announcement on July 19 that promoting ice cream in ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’ was ‘inconsistent with our values’
It was not instantly clear what authorized motion the city may take towards the corporate. DailyMail.com has reached out to Unilever for extra info and extra remark.
Unilever CEO Alan Jope despatched a reply to Kranjac on Tuesday, which was obtained by DailyMail.com.
‘I acknowledge that Ben & Jerry’s assertion was met with concern and disappointment so I additionally wished to take the chance to elucidate the matter additional,’ Jope wrote in his response.
Jope mentioned that the corporate has had a ‘sturdy and longstanding dedication’ to its enterprise in Israel – the place it employs practically 2,000 individuals within the nation throughout 4 factories and a head workplace.
The mayor of Englewood Cliffs, had been Unilever is predicated in america, despatched a letter to the corporate on Monday, obtained by DailyMail.com
Unilever CEO Alan Jope despatched a reply to Kranjac on Tuesday, which was obtained by DailyMail.com
A employee handles tubs of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at a manufacturing unit in Beer Tuvia, southern Israel, on July 20
Within the final decade, Unilever has invested about $294 million within the Israeli market i – the place round 85% of the merchandise bought are made in Israel, Jope mentioned.
‘From a Unilever perspective, it is a complicated matter as a result of since we acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, as a part of the acquisition settlement, we’ve got all the time acknowledged the suitable of the model and its unbiased Board to take selections in accordance with its social mission,’ Jope mentioned.
He added that Ben & Jerry’s has additionally ‘made it clear’ that the corporate will proceed to promote ice cream in the remainder of Israel – reiterating the corporate’s unique July assertion.
‘We now have welcomed this resolution to remain in Israel emphatically, and have been searching for to deal with this matter in as respectful and delicate manner as potential,’ Jope wrote.
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‘I might additionally prefer to make it exceptionally clear that Unilever rejects fully and repudiates unequivocally any type of discrimination or intolerance. Antisemitism has no place in any society.’
Ben & Jerry’s cofounders Bennett Cohen (left) and Jerry Greenfield (proper) penned an op-ed to say that they ‘unequivocally assist’ the corporate’s resolution to cease promoting ice cream within the West Financial institution to boycott Israeli settlements
Jope reiterated that the corporate has ‘by no means expressed any assist for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) motion’ and has ‘no intention’ of doing so.
‘I hope that this letter goes some option to reassuring you that we recognise the considerations you’ve got raised,’ Jope wrote.
Kranjac responded to Jope’s letter in an emailed assertion to DailyMail.com.
‘The brand new letter from Mr. Jope is extra company drivel from Unilever,’ Kranjac mentioned. ‘They know they’ve made a mistake by discriminating towards components of Israel.’
Kranjac added: ‘Unilever ought to maintain its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s accountable for its actions and reiterate that discrimination has no place at Unilever.’
The Jewish co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s have mentioned that they ‘unequivocally assist’ the corporate’s resolution to cease promoting ice cream within the West Financial institution to boycott Israeli settlements.
Bennett Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who co-founded the ice cream chain in 1978 and bought it to Unilever in 2000, endorsed the choice in an op-ed for the The New York Times in July.
‘We’re the founders of Ben & Jerry’s. We’re additionally proud Jews. It is a part of who we’re and the way we have recognized ourselves for our complete lives. As our firm started to increase internationally, Israel was considered one of our first abroad markets. We had been then, and stay right this moment, supporters of the State of Israel,’ Cohen and Greenfield wrote.
‘Nevertheless it’s potential to assist Israel and oppose a few of its insurance policies, simply as we have opposed insurance policies of the U.S. authorities.’
Cohen and Greenfield continued: ‘As such, we unequivocally assist the choice of the corporate to finish enterprise within the occupied territories, which the worldwide neighborhood, together with the United Nations, has deemed an unlawful occupation.’
The businessmen famous that they now not have management over the corporate’s operations however praised Ben & Jerry’s for the ‘particularly courageous’ resolution and mentioned the corporate is ‘on the suitable aspect of historical past’.
‘Ending the gross sales of ice cream within the occupied territories is likely one of the most essential selections the corporate has made in its 43-year historical past,’ they wrote.
Cohen and Greenfield continued: ‘Regardless that it undoubtedly knew that the response could be swift and highly effective, Ben & Jerry’s took the step to align its enterprise and operations with its progressive values.’
‘That we assist the corporate’s resolution isn’t a contradiction neither is it anti-Semitic. In truth, we consider this act can and ought to be seen as advancing the ideas of justice and human rights, core tenets of Judaism.’
The co-founders famous that Ben & Jerry’s distinctly determined to halt gross sales within the territories which Israel occupies – not the nation of Israel itself.
‘The choice outdoors Israel’s democratic borders isn’t a boycott of Israel,’ they wrote. ‘The Ben & Jerry’s assertion didn’t endorse the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions motion.’
Cohen and Greenfield added: ‘As Jewish supporters of the State of Israel, we essentially reject the notion that it’s anti-Semitic to query the insurance policies of the State of Israel.’
