Our Call to Ben & Jerry’s

Vermonters for Justice in Palestine
Calls on Ben & Jerry’s to:

Until Israel ends its occupation and colonization of Palestinian lands in compliance with international law:

1. 1. End the marketing, catering and sales of Ben & Jerry’s products in Israel and Jewish-only settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
   2. Stop manufacturing ice cream in Israel.
   3. Issue a statement (a) calling on Israel to end its occupation and settlement enterprise and (b) appealing directly to other socially responsible companies to do likewise and to cease business operations in Israel and its illegal settlements.

Boycott Divestment & Sanctions:
In Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Vermonters for Justice in Palestine’s opposition to Ben & Jerry’s business practices in Israel and occupied Palestine is motivated by the grave human rights abuses being committed by the State of Israel. We are are also aware that in 2005 Palestinian civil society called for an international campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with three rights codified in international law.

• • End Israel’s occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantle its separation wall;
  • Recognize the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
  • Respect, protect and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in United Nations Resolution 194.

Ben & Jerry’s former CEO, Jostein Solheim, said in an interview in 2011: “My mantra that I’ve repeated a hundred times since starting at Ben & Jerry’s is: ‘Change is a wonderful thing,’…. The world needs dramatic change to address the social and environmental challenges we are facing. Values led businesses can play a critical role in driving that positive change. We need to lead by example, and prove to the world that this is the best way to run a business. Historically, this company has been and must continue to be a pioneer to continually challenge how business can be a force for good and address inequities inherent in global business.”Vermonters for Justice in Palestine agrees: The world – including Israel-Palestine – needs “dramatic change.” Let’s start by ending the occupation!