Israel PM warns Unilever of 'severe consequences' from Ben & Jerry's decision

FILE PHOTO: Tubs of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, a Unilever brand, are seen at their shop in London, Britain, October 5, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKayJERUSALEM: Israel warned consumer goods giant Unilever Plc on Tuesday of"severe consequences" from a decision by subsidiary Ben & Jerry's to stop selling ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories, and urged US states to invoke anti-boycott laws.

The Ben & Jerry's announcement on Monday followed pro-Palestinian pressure on the South Burlington, Vermont-based company over its business in Israel and Jewish settlements in the West Bank, handled through a licensee partner since 1987.Ben & Jerry's said it would not renew the license when it expires at the end of next year. It said it would stay in Israel under a different arrangement, without sales in the West Bank, among areas where Palestinians seek statehood.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office said he spoke with Unilever CEO Alan Jope about the"glaring anti-Israel measure" by the ice cream maker."From Israel's standpoint, this action has severe consequences, legal and otherwise, and it will move aggressively against any boycott measure targeting civilians," Bennett told Jope, according to the statement from his office.

"Rapid and determined action must be taken to counter such discriminatory and antisemitic actions," read the letter, tweeted by the envoy, which likened the case to Airbnb's 2018 announcement that it would delist settlement rental properties.Airbnb reversed that decision in 2019 following legal challenges in the United States, but said it would donate profits from bookings in the settlements to humanitarian causes.

Palestinians welcomed the Ben & Jerry's announcement. They want the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip for a future state. Israel deems all of Jerusalem its capital - a status not recognised internationally.

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Singapore cannot yet open up like UK, US and Israel: Ong Ye KungAt 50 per cent of the population being fully vaccinated, Singapore is not yet ready to open up as aggressively as countries like the UK and Israel, and some US states, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. The seniors have made up their minds not to get vaccinated. There’s not point in waiting. The ship has to start sailing. You cannot keep waiting for late comers, they might never come
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »

North Korea warns young people against using slang from the SouthKim Jong-un's party also warns against adopting the clothes, hairstyles and music of South Korea.
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »

PM Johnson pleads for caution as 'Freedom Day' arrives in EnglandPrime Minister Boris Johnson ends more than a year of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in England on Monday, urging the public to remain cautious but putting his faith in vaccines to protect the country even as infections are surging. On what local media have dubbed 'Freedom Day', Johnson's decision to lift regulations in favour of restarting an economy damaged by a series of on-off lockdowns since March 2020 marks a new chapter in the global response to the coronavirus. If the vaccines continue to prove effective in reducing severe illness and deaths even while infections reach record levels, Johnson's decision could inform other highly vaccinated countries' approach to returning to normal.
Source: YahooSG - 🏆 3. / 71 Read more »

Pegasus scandal shows risk of Israel's spy-tech diplomacy: ExpertsReports that Israel-made Pegasus spyware has been used to monitor activists, journalists and politicians around the world highlight the diplomatic ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Israel's defense minister, Palestinian president, discuss 'trust-building'Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said he spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday and that the two agreed there was a need to ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »

Liberals in Israeli government to discuss NSO spyware with defence ministerA liberal party in Israel's governing coalition said on Monday it would ask the Defence Ministry about exports of Israeli spyware that media ...
Source: ChannelNewsAsia - 🏆 6. / 66 Read more »