Posted on 08/09/2021 10:31:59 AM PDT by MarvinStinson
Ben & Jerry’s brought in vocal Israel critic and anti-Zionist author Peter Beinart to talk to its store owners about Israel’s "illegal occupation" earlier this week, after franchisees raised concerns about the company’s boycott of the Jewish state.
On the conference call with Ben & Jerry’s franchisees and store managers, Beinart argued that Israel is illegally occupying territory that it seized from Jordan in an offensive war in 1967 and claimed that the Jewish state sends soldiers into Palestinian villages to abduct minors, according to a source familiar with the content of the call.
The company’s decision to invite Beinart—an advocate for the Israel boycott movement who has called for the abolition of the Jewish state—to address insider objections indicates that it is doubling down on its criticism of Israel in the face of internal and external fallout. Thirty Ben & Jerry’s franchise store owners recently sent a letter to the company, which is owned by Unilever, asking it to "re-examine and withdraw" its boycott decision. Unilever has responded with reassurances that the company remains committed to doing business in the Jewish state even as its subsidiary continues its boycott.
Beinart said he could not recall if the descriptions of his comments during the call were "entirely accurate," and said it was "very unlikely I said ‘offensive war' given how I generally speak about 1967." He declined to provide additional details about his remarks.
The ice cream company sent a memo to franchisees inviting them to "join us for a learning opportunity and respectful discussion with author and Middle East expert, Peter Beinart."
Beinart recently disclosed in his newsletter that he has "spoken privately to [Ben & Jerry’s] executives and encouraged their efforts" on the boycott campaign, adding that "no one has produced any independent evidence that the company is hostile to Jews."
Beinart positioned himself as a leading critic of Israel and Zionism, landing a New York Times column in the process. Beinart now calls Israel an apartheid state and says that the pro-Israel community silences and intimidates critics.
In July 2020, Beinart took his criticism of Israel to new heights when he penned an editorial stating, "I no longer believe in a Jewish state"—a position that is shared by those who want to see Israel destroyed, including Palestinian terror groups.
Ben & Jerry’s did not respond to a request for comment. Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, did not respond to a request for comment.
Concerned franchisees of the ice cream company recently sent a letter to Ben & Jerry’s leadership asking them to reconsider the decision to halt product sales in the West Bank, arguing that it "not only distorts the situation on the ground—it has imposed, and will to continue to impose, substantial financial costs on all of us."
The company has also faced backlash from state and local governments over its decision. Florida placed Ben & Jerry’s on a list of "scrutinized" companies earlier this month, and Maryland is reviewing its state contracts with the ice cream maker.
I swear when I first saw the headline I thought the original media link was to “free bacon” instead of freebeacon. LOL
I support Israel’s right to exist where it is, and if they need to grease some pally-stain-ians to prevent them from lobbing missiles/rocks/spit, then that is fine ( just don’t drag us into it ).
I do NOT support sending ANY tax payer money to Israel.
In fact I don’t support sending ANYtax payer money to any countries that hate Israel AS WELL!
If they can’t “boot up” their country properly given 70+ years to get off our AMPLE teat, then it is THEIR fault, not ours!
Sick of spending money on places that don’t have a US zip code!
Ben and Jerry’s is over priced trash anyway.
Why does Maryland have contracts with Ben and Jerry’s in the first place ?
Time to double down on the boycott. If the franchisees get hurt they’ll sue unilever. Win.
Peter is annoying.
Don't buy their ice cream. There are plenty of other ice creams out there which are likely tastier and certainly cheaper. Show Unilever (who bought B&J's lousy ice cream) that you don't approve of their political choices.
“....high price tag on it, as though that could make it worth more. T....”
That actually worked ! So many people are convinced it tastes better !
Doesn’t a higher price tag mean quality ?
Ben & Jerry cash out long ago and sold to mega corporation Unilever. Their pints are now over $5 here in Florida.
I'd say you have to ask a courtesan vs. a streetwalker.
That partisan hack makes Stalin look like a MAGA conservative.
A choice of speaker which clarifies Ben and Jerry's stand.
Dear Mr. Beinart, whoever the hell you are. GFYS. ESAD. You are entitled to your opinion, but so what. Nobody is waiting with baited breath for your next pronouncement, either. Least of all, I.
I’m sure Ben & Jerry’s originally wanted a different speaker for this discussion with the franchise owners but unfortunately for them Joseph Goebbels was unable (he is still burning in hell and couldn’t be reached) so they went with option #2.
The great commercial dilemma !
A turdblossom if there ever was one.
I am unable to understand Jews that hate Jews and Israel.
WHY? Are these Jews really Jews or just have Jew names?
“JINOS!”
Ben &Jerry eye grease is overpriced. I will not buy it for many reasons. Like Starbucks, it is not on my list at all.
Florida placed Ben & Jerry’s on a list of "scrutinized" companies earlier this month, and Maryland is reviewing its state contracts with the ice cream maker.
Thanks Marv.
If the B&J boycott was started by a recognized country, it would be illegal under the Ribicoff Act.
In any case, I suspect Unilever will feel the pain soon when the counter-boycott begins.
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