Arizona shames Biden on Ben & Jerry’s boycott of Jews
Arizona has highlighted President Biden’s weak leadership in failing to condemn Jew-hatred – by selling off Arizona’s $143 million investment in Unilever bonds ($50 million still to be sold) – after Unilever’s subsidiary – Ben & Jerry’s – announced its intention to stop selling its ice cream products from the end of 2022 to Jews living in Judea and Samaria (West Bank).
35 American states have passed legislation targeting actions like that taken by Ben & Jerry’s.
Unilever’s consumer products span the globe– including those household items pictured below:
In a racist statement dressed up as an expression of a political opinion Ben & Jerry’s announced on 19 July:
“We believe it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).”
However the geographic name “Occupied Palestinian Territory” – first used in 1999 – has earlier names: “Judea and Samaria” – which appear in the Bible many times – comprising part of the land within which the Jewish National Home was to be reconstituted under the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine and preserved under the United Nations Charter.
Judea and Samaria was also the nomenclature used by the United Nations in its 1947 Partition Resolution.
All Jews living in Judea and Samaria were expelled following its conquest by Transjordan in 1948 –– and only allowed to return there after the conclusion of the 1967 Six-Day War. The name “West Bank” was first coined in 1950.
Israel’s response to Ben & Jerry’s announcement pulled no punches.
Ambassador of Israel to the United States and Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations – Gilad Erdan – in coordination with Israel’s Foreign Minister – Yair Lapid – wrote to the Governors of those 35 American states urging them to take action under their legislation – calling Ben & Jerry’s decision:
“de-facto adoption of antisemitic practices and advancement of the de-legitimization of the Jewish State and the dehumanization of the Jewish people”.
The Biden administration’s limp response came from US State Department spokesman Ned Price:
“I don’t have a reaction to offer regarding the actions of a private company… More broadly what I would say is that we firmly reject the BDS movement [Ed: Boycotts, Divestment, Sanctions] which unfairly singles out Israel,”
These were token words of little import having regard to Ben & Jerry’s overt display of Jew-hatred. No Biden reaction to an American company refusing to sell its ice cream to Jews living in a part of the Jewish people’s ancient and biblical homeland?
Biden’s reluctance to demand Ben & Jerry’s retract their decision can be traced back to 23 December 2016 when – as Vice President – Biden authorised America’s abstention on – rather than vetoing of – United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334– which reaffirmed:
“ that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace;”
Biden’s failure to condemn Ben & Jerry’s decision suggests he has not changed his 2016 position on Judea and Samaria being Occupied Palestinian territory – but additionally in 2021 that Jews living there now can be discriminated against and economically targeted.
Biden’s following promise to Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on 27 August was – as a consequence – shallow and insincere:
“The US will always be there for Israel. It’s an unshakeable partnership between our two nations”.
Illinois reportedly now seems set to follow Arizona’s lead and call out Ben & Jerry’s Jew-hatred – leadership which Biden so demonstrably lacks.
Author’s note: The cartoon — commissioned exclusively for this article — is by Yaakov Kirschen aka “Dry Bones”- one of Israel’s foremost political and social commentators — whose cartoons have graced the columns of Israeli and international media publications for decades
David Singer is a Sydney lawyer and a foundation member of the International Analysts Network
Arizona simply followed its law.
Hopefully those other US states possessing similar laws will do likewise.
It is one thing to have a law and another to find any reason to stop wriggling out of enforcing it.
Ben & Jerry’s need to be made to account for discriminating against Jews living in Judea and Samaria
Just the other day someone else in high places had to clarify their comments on the Torah…………can’t get any lower than that.