Leaked foreign ministry cable calls on diplomats to help organise protests after company announces it will no longer sell in illegal settlements
Three Israeli soldiers eat ice cream at a shop inside the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Be’er Tuvia, southern Israel, on 21 July 2021 (AFP)
By MEE staff Published date: 28 July 2021 12:33 UTC | Last update: 1 day 1 hour ago
Israel has launched a special task force in order to apply “long-term pressure” to ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, after it announced earlier this month that it would no longer be selling its products in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to a classified Israeli foreign ministry cable seen by the American news site Axios, the task force aims to lobby politicians and organisations – primarily in the US – to try and apply pressure on the company to reverse its decision before the policy comes into effect in 18 months’ time.
‘We need to make use of the 18 months that are left until the decision comes into force and try to change it’
– classified Israeli foreign ministry cable
“We need to make use of the 18 months that are left until the decision comes into force and try to change it,” said the cable.
“We want to create long-term pressure on [owner] Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s by consumers, politicians, and in the press and social media in order to lead to a dialogue with the companies.”
In a statement on 19 July, Ben & Jerry’s said it was “inconsistent with our values” to continue selling in the illegal settlements, adding that they “hear and recognise the concerns shared with us by our fans and trusted partners”.
The company said it would “stay in Israel through a different arrangement”, however.
‘New form of terrorism’
The move has provoked a wave of fury from Israel and pro-Israel groups, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog denouncing it as a “new form of terrorism” and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett promising Israel would use “all tools at its disposal” to fight the decision.
In the classified document, which was sent on 22 July, instructions were given to Israeli diplomats to encourage Jewish groups and pro-Israel groups to organise demonstrations outside of Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever offices and try and apply pressure on investors and distributors.
It said that diplomats should push for statements publicly condemning the companies and “encourage public protests in the media and directly with key executives in both companies”.
Recent Comments