Ben and Jerry speak: we ‘support Israel’ but reject ‘illegal occupation’

In NY Times op-ed, founders of ice cream giant dismiss accusations of antisemitism; Israeli diplomats told to organise protests in US and Europe

Ben and Jerry say they ‘support Israel,’ reject its ‘illegal occupation’ (Times of Israel)
In NY Times op-ed, founders of ice cream giant say decision to boycott settlements one of the most important in firm’s 43-year history, dismiss accusations of antisemitism

OPINION: We’re Ben and Jerry; men of ice cream, men of principle (NYT)

Israeli campaign aims to whip up US protests against Ben & Jerry’s — report (Times of Israel)
Cable includes instructions for working with pro-Israel groups to foment demonstrations outside corporate offices as part of pressure campaign seeking to reverse boycott decision

‘I am not anti-Semitic,’ says Ben & Jerry’s board chair amid boycott controversy (JTA/Times of Israel)
In first reaction since decision not to sell ice cream to West Bank settlements, Anuradha Mittal says she is proud of stance and claims to have been subjected to ‘vile hate’

How McDonald’s took the same stance as Ben & Jerry’s but avoided public backlash (Times of Israel)
By not openly announcing its policy against opening branches beyond Green Line, the fast-food chain has been able to fly mostly under the radar and avoid branding as ‘antisemitic’

Photo: Jerry Greenfield (left) and Ben Cohen, in 2010 (Wikimedia Commons)