Failed Governor Of Florida Opposes Ben & Jerry's Very Limited Boycott Of Israel
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has cried out against the Vermont based Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream company over its recent decision to end sales of its ice cream in Israeli-occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem. The Ice Cream company chose to end the sales due to Israel's rampant crimes against humanity in Palestine and apartheid.
In a letter to the State Board of Administration of Florida, DeSantis urged the agency to place Ben & Jerry's on its Continued Examination Companies that Boycott Israel List. Due to Israel's economic grip on various US politicians and lobbies targeting both the Republican and Democrat parties. The governor also called for a review Unilever, which it noted is “a publicly traded company in which Florida holds multiple investments” and that also owns Ben & Jerry's.
He also called for the agency to initiate a process to place both entities on its Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List and asked that he be provided with an update on the status of the process immediately. It is still murky what economic holdings or interests the governor of Florida has in Israel or why this is a priority as his state continues to be wrecked by poor infrastructure and the ongoing pandemic.
Ben and Jerry's drew international attention when it announced it would stop sales of its ice cream in Israeli-occupied areas. The company was founded by two Jewish men, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who said it believes it's inconsistent with its values for its products “to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).” It would still sell products in Israel, though.
According to DeSantis, the actions taken by the company are in conflict with Florida law, which has no international jurisdiction or affects other states.
The governor ranted that, “As a matter of law and principle, the State of Florida does not tolerate discrimination against the State of Israel or the Israeli people, including boycotts and divestments targeting Israel,” He went on to threaten, “cease the boycott of Israel as required by Florida law” after being placed on its Scrutinized Companies List, the agency “must refrain from acquiring any and all Unilever assets consistent with the law. ... These actions affirm the State of Florida’s relationship with the State of Israel and our commitment to a swift response to those who discriminate against the Israeli people,”
DeSantis is one of several US politicians who shrieked in opposition to Ben & Jerry's over the move to not sell Ice Cream in some areas. None of the US politicians that voiced opposition to the boycott are recorded to have opposed Israel's ongoing crimes and/ or apartheid.
In a letter to the State Board of Administration of Florida, DeSantis urged the agency to place Ben & Jerry's on its Continued Examination Companies that Boycott Israel List. Due to Israel's economic grip on various US politicians and lobbies targeting both the Republican and Democrat parties. The governor also called for a review Unilever, which it noted is “a publicly traded company in which Florida holds multiple investments” and that also owns Ben & Jerry's.
He also called for the agency to initiate a process to place both entities on its Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List and asked that he be provided with an update on the status of the process immediately. It is still murky what economic holdings or interests the governor of Florida has in Israel or why this is a priority as his state continues to be wrecked by poor infrastructure and the ongoing pandemic.
Ben and Jerry's drew international attention when it announced it would stop sales of its ice cream in Israeli-occupied areas. The company was founded by two Jewish men, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who said it believes it's inconsistent with its values for its products “to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).” It would still sell products in Israel, though.
According to DeSantis, the actions taken by the company are in conflict with Florida law, which has no international jurisdiction or affects other states.
The governor ranted that, “As a matter of law and principle, the State of Florida does not tolerate discrimination against the State of Israel or the Israeli people, including boycotts and divestments targeting Israel,” He went on to threaten, “cease the boycott of Israel as required by Florida law” after being placed on its Scrutinized Companies List, the agency “must refrain from acquiring any and all Unilever assets consistent with the law. ... These actions affirm the State of Florida’s relationship with the State of Israel and our commitment to a swift response to those who discriminate against the Israeli people,”
DeSantis is one of several US politicians who shrieked in opposition to Ben & Jerry's over the move to not sell Ice Cream in some areas. None of the US politicians that voiced opposition to the boycott are recorded to have opposed Israel's ongoing crimes and/ or apartheid.
