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Photo Credit: The Jewish Link
August 6, 2021
TORONTO – On July 19th, Ben & Jerry’s, an ice cream producer owned by Unilever, issued a statement that they will stop selling ice cream in territories that are currently under dispute between the democratic State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
By unfairly singling out Israel with their discriminatory boycott, Ben & Jerry’s have made their products unpalatable to many Canadian consumers while opening their corporate brand to international criticism.
The company has not signaled its intent to cease the sale of its products in other disputed or occupied areas, such as Kashmir, Northern Cyprus or Crimea.
BDS is an inherently antisemitic movement and an effort to delegitimize the Jewish State. It has been widely condemned, including by the Government of Canada. BDS leaders have been caught red-handed advocating for terrorism, while many BDS activists have been exposed as promoting antisemitic myths and slogans.
The Ben & Jerry’s CEO who made the controversial decision has publicly denied being antisemitic, yet was found to have previously endorsed the antisemitic BDS movement in 2018 on social media.
B’nai Brith has been asked by concerned Canadian consumers how they can take a stand against Ben & Jerry’s anti-Israel discrimination.
Join B’nai Brith Canada and sign a letter to all major Canadian grocery chains
asking them to stop stocking Ben & Jerry’s products.
“Canada’s Jewish community stands with Israel,” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “It’s not just the ice cream lovers who don’t appreciate their summer dessert becoming unfairly politicized.”
“We encourage all consumers of good conscience to vote with their wallets, and let major grocery retailers understand that Ben & Jerry’s is no longer a brand we want to see on Canadian store shelves.”
Many companies and governmental jurisdictions throughout the world have begun to drop Ben & Jerry’s products or to apply other appropriate sanctions.
It has been reported that the states of Florida and Texas may prevent future investments and contracts with Unilever if its Ben & Jerry’s subsidiary does not change its discriminatory position within the near future.
Join B’nai Brith Canada and sign a letter to all major Canadian grocery chains
asking them to stop stocking Ben & Jerry’s products.
