Israel Boycott Loons Turn on Liberal Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Ban Based on False Claims

Israel Boycott Loons Turn on Liberal Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Ban Based on False Claims

by Deborah Danan 4 Feb 2016

http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/02/04/israel-boycott-loons-turn-on-liberal-ben-jerrys-ice-cream-ban-based-on-false-claims/

TEL AVIV – Anti-Israel students at an exclusive NY college proposed a ban on the consumption of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream due to the ice scream mavens’ supposed support of apartheid via its “contractual relationship with an Israeli franchise.”

Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) activists at Vassar College proposed a resolution prohibiting student organizations from serving the ice cream at student functions, based on the false claim that Ben & Jerry’s conducts business in Israel’s disputed West Bank territories.

According to the resolution, “Ben & Jerry’s continues to tie its franchise to these illegal settlements. In short, while apartheid ensues in historic Palestine, Ben & Jerry’s ‘peace & love’ ice cream continues to pass through Israeli checkpoints, and be transported on Jewish-only roads to be sold in Jewish-only settlements.”

The American libertarian magazine, Reason, published a sarcastically-toned article claiming that despite their liberal politics, Ben & Jerry’s are actually “in cahoots with the Zionists.”

“I scream, you scream, we all scream because it never stops,” the article concluded.

However, a statement from the ice cream giants disputed the Vassar students’ accusations, claiming it had “no economic interest in the occupied territories.” The company categorically denied accusations that it operated business facilities in disputed regions.

“The manufacturing facility and two scoop shops are located outside the occupied territories, just south of Tel Aviv,” the statement said.

Ben & Jerry’s is just as famous for its history of liberal values and supporting progressive causes as it is for its ice cream. The company even named a new flavor after Democratic presidential candidate

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)16^%.

Ben & Jerry’s also said that its corporate U.S.-based organization does not retain any profits from its business in Israel. The company even donates 100% of its Israeli operator’s net licensing fee “to foster multicultural programs and values-led ingredient sourcing initiatives in the region.”

Nonetheless, Vassar students are just the latest college group to join the campaign aimed at vilifying the ice cream makers.

Student groups from several universities across the U.S. had previously signed a letter to Ben & Jerry’s CEO Jostein Solheim demanding her company stop all business operations in Israeli settlements – operations that do not exist. The letter accuses Ben & Jerry’s of being “a corporate beneficiary of Israel’s military and economic domination.”

Ben & Jerry’s

Ben Cohen was a co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, and a steering committee member for the Movement Resource Group.

Note: Jerry Greenfield was a co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, and a steering committee member for the Movement Resource Group, and is the president of the Ben and Jerry's Foundation.

Jeff Furman is a trustee at the Ben and Jerry's Foundation, and was a founding board member for Ben & Jerry's.

Ben and Jerry's Foundation was a donor for the Movement Resource Group,

Movement Resource Group was a funder for the Occupy Movement.

Occupy Wall Street is the initial protest for the Occupy Movement.

Zuccotti Park is the staging area for 2011 NYC protests for Occupy Wall Street.

Brookfield Office Properties is the owner of Zuccotti Park.

John E. Zuccotti was a co-chairman for the Brookfield Office Properties, the New York (NY) first deputy mayor, and a director at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center.

Diana L. Taylor was a director at the Brookfield Office Properties, and is Michael R. Bloomberg’s companion.

Michael R. Bloomberg is Diana L. Taylor’s companion, the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, was the New York (NY) mayor, the chairman for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and an advocate for the ONE Campaign.

George Soros was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone, the International Rescue Committee, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

ONE Campaign is a partner at the International Rescue Committee.

Susan McCue was the founding president & CEO for the ONE Campaign, and is a trustee at the Third Way.

Barbara Manfrey Vogelstein is a trustee at the Third Way, and a trustee at the Vassar College.

Milbrey Rennie Taylor was an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, is an overseer at the International Rescue Committee, and a trustee at the Vassar College.

Anne M. Tatlock was a trustee at the Vassar College, is a director at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center, and a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

Bloomberg Family Foundation was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).