New Jersey Leaves Unilever, Ben & Jerry’s and Israel

Mr. Jope also touched upon the complex relationship between Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s. After Unilever bought the company in 2000, Ben & Jerry’s retained its own board of directors. Mr Jope wrote that this board has the right to “make decisions in accordance with its social mission”.

Ben & Jerry’s, started by Mr. Cohen and Mr. Greenfield in Vermont in the 1970s, has always promoted a progressive worldview exemplified by tie-dye T-shirts and Peace Pops ice cream sticks. The founders are no longer on the four-member board of directors, but its chairman is Anuradha Mittal. sings his role It includes ensuring that Ben & Jerry’s sets standards for other companies.

Ben & Jerry’s spokesman Sean Greenwood declined to comment on New Jersey’s decision.

Republican State Senator Tom Kean said the move demonstrates the success of the 2016 law he sponsored, along with Democratic State Senator Loretta Weinberg. The law prohibits public investments in companies that boycott, divest or sanction Israel.

“Our law sends a clear message that New Jersey will not tolerate antisemitism and that we will not financially support businesses that target Israel,” Kean said.

Mr. Kean said this is not the first time the law has been successfully implemented. In 2019, New Jersey said Airbnb would be banned from investing in Airbnb for refusing to list rental accommodations in Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. After similar actions by other states, Airbnb reversed its policy.

Leaders of the New Jersey Jewish Federations praised their choice to leave Unilever in a statement: “We commend the state of New Jersey for its decision, we rebuke those who discriminate against the State of Israel. It is a vibrant economic partner of the United States and the state.”

However, Selaedin Maksut, executive director of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, described the decision as “shameful”. He applauded Ben & Jerry’s and said the accusations of anti-Semitism were a smokescreen to divert attention from Israel’s actions in the occupied territories.

“I am deeply disturbed that the State of New Jersey is actively punishing its residents and businesses for boycotting foreign countries involved in war crimes,” he said. “Boycotting and criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitism, it is opposing an oppressive, institutionally racist, far-right government. I expect New Jersey to reconsider its decision so that it doesn’t find itself on the wrong side of history.”