Ben & Jerry’s is sued by Israeli ice cream maker over boycott – Center East Monitor

Ben & Jerry’s was sued on Thursday by its long-time Israeli ice cream producer, which stated the corporate illegally severed their 34-year relationship after halting gross sales in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, Reuters reviews.

Avi Zinger stated Ben & Jerry’s refused to resume the license for his American High quality Merchandise Ltd as a result of he wouldn’t abide by the corporate’s choice to cease promoting its merchandise within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution and elements of East Jerusalem.

Ben & Jerry’s, and its dad or mum Unilever Plc, declined to touch upon the lawsuit, which was filed with the US District Courtroom in Newark, New Jersey.

Based in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in a renovated fuel station, Ben & Jerry’s has lengthy positioned itself as socially acutely aware, and retained independence to pursue that mission after being acquired by Unilever in 2000.

However the gross sales boycott introduced in July sparked a backlash, together with divestments by pension funds and accusations of anti-Semitism by some Jewish teams.

Learn: Ben & Jerry’s decision is ‘legitimate and necessary’, Amnesty says

In accordance with Thursday’s grievance, Ben & Jerry’s had “repeatedly promised” Zinger it could renew its license together with his 169-employee firm past its scheduled 31 December, 2022 expiration, however caved to strain from Israel’s opponents.

Zinger, an Israeli citizen, stated the one purpose for the reversal was his “refusal to adjust to their illegal demand that plaintiffs violate Israeli legislation by boycotting elements of Israel.”

His lawsuit seeks an injunction sustaining the established order till the case is resolved, plus unspecified damages.

Most nations think about Israeli settlements within the occupied Palestinian territories unlawful, which Israel disputes.

In saying the boycott, Ben & Jerry’s stated promoting ice cream in these territories was “inconsistent with our values.”

Learn: Unilever expects new Ben & Jerry’s ‘arrangement’ for Israel by year-end

Ben & Jerry’s accounts for about 3 per cent of the worldwide ice cream market.

Cohen and Greenfield, who’re Jewish, usually are not concerned in Ben & Jerry’s operations.

They wrote within the New York Instances in July that they supported Israel however opposed its “unlawful occupation” of the West Financial institution.

The case is Zinger et al v Ben & Jerry’s Selfmade Inc et al, U.S. District Courtroom, District of New Jersey, No. 22-01154.