MEDIA CONTACT:
Joshua Silberberg Plus PR
NEW YORK, NY – July 22, 2021 - Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) today joined other major Jewish and pro-Israel organizations in urging the governors of states with anti-BDS laws or executive orders in force to determine whether state pension funds must divest from Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, and/or state contracts with Unilever or its subsidiaries should be cancelled.
Ben & Jerry’s announced this week its intention to refuse sale of its products to Israelis and Palestinians in areas the company describes as “Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
“Whether they recognize it or not, companies like Ben & Jerry’s are engaging in an economic war driven by extremists determined to end Israel’s existence as a Jewish state. Hadassah believes the announcement by Ben & Jerry’s should trigger enforcement of anti-BDS laws and executive orders in 33 states. Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, must compel an immediate reversal by its subsidiary or be subject to divestment,” said Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow.
“Ben & Jerry’s is discriminating against Jewish customers in Israel by eliminating the ability for customers to buy their product based on where they live. Businesses should not cater to the whims of hardliners who believe that only certain people from certain places are fit to be customers. We are proud to stand as a united community against bigoted corporate policies and urge state officials to make swift determinations about the their responsibilities under existing law,” Smolow said.
###