Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop business relationships with the illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories is “a legitimate and necessary response, in line with its responsibility to respect international law and human rights”, Amnesty International said in a press release yesterday.
On July 19, the US-based ice cream company stated that “it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to be sold in the OPT”, adding that it would not be renewing the contract with its distributor in the occupied territory when it expires at the end of next year.
RT PalestineChron "How #BenandJerry's has Exposed #Israel’s Anti-#BDS Strategy by @RamzyBaroud https://t.co/GD2VFbLEaS via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/1kxROKMhcP"
— Richard Hardigan (@RichardHardigan) July 30, 2021
“In addition to the inherent illegality of the settlements themselves, the settlement enterprise is inextricably linked to gross and systematic human rights violations against Palestinians,” Amnesty said. “Given these circumstances, companies cannot do business in, or have value chains and business relationships with illegal settlements, without contributing to serious violations of both international humanitarian law and human rights law.”
“Settlement businesses depend on and benefit from Israel’s unlawful confiscation of Palestinian land and other resources. They also benefit from Israel’s discriminatory policies for planning and zoning, financial incentives, access to utilities, and infrastructure. Palestinian enterprises are disadvantaged through restrictions on movement, and administrative and legal constraints.”
Amnesty: BEN AND JERRY’S DECISION TO STOP BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ILLEGAL ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN THE OPT IS CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW https://t.co/bxnrmN7T57
— Nadim Nashif #SaveSheikhJarrah (@NadimNashif) August 6, 2021
“It is therefore right for Ben and Jerry’s to take the decision to withdraw from Israeli settlements within the OPT,” Amnesty said, adding: “Ben & Jerry’s should also commit to continue selling to Palestinian areas within the OPT.”
Ben & Jerry’s was criticized for being anti-Semitic and practicing a “new form of terrorism” as a result of its decision, with its parent company Unilever seeking to assuage the concerns of several American Jewish groups saying it “does not support” the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
