The company announced last July it would no longer sell its ice cream in the occupied Palestinian territories, saying it was "inconsistent with our values," although it said it would sell its products in Israel.
In this file July 20, 2021, photo, trucks are parked at the Ben & Jerry's ice-cream factory in the Be'er Tuvia Industrial area in Israel.
(Tsafrir Abayov / AP)
Ben & Jerry's has lost its bid to block its parent company Unilever from selling its ice cream in Israel occupied West Bank, which the US firm said would run counter to its values.
The company, known for its political activism, took the unusual step of seeking an injunction after London-based Unilever announced it had sold its interest in the ice cream to an Israeli license-holder.
However, a US federal judge ruled on Monday the ice cream company had "failed to demonstrate" that the move to sell the goods in the Israeli-occupied settlements caused it "irreparable harm."
In July last year, Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's announced it would no longer sell its ice cream in occupied Palestine's territories, which Israel seized in 1967, saying it was "inconsistent with our values," although it said it would keep selling its products in Israel.
However, Israeli license-holder Avi Zinger had continued to produce the ice cream in his factory in the suburbs of Tel Aviv and distribute it to the Israeli settlements, going against the company's decision.
Hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in communities found illegal under international law.
READ MORE: Why Ben & Jerry's decision scares the fudge out of Israel's leaders
Why is Ben & Jerry's ending sales in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories? pic.twitter.com/cqvFfo9NPt
US court: Too speculative
On July 5, Ben & Jerry's asked that any agreement allowing distribution or sale of its products in the occupied West Bank be dissolved and that any further such transaction go before its board of directors to be given a green light.
Unilever's decision was "made without the consent of Ben & Jerry's Independent Board," and goes against the merger agreement that gave the board the ability to protect the founder's values and reputation, the complaint said.
However, US District Court Judge Andrew Carter Jr in Manhattan said the idea the company's messaging could be marred or customers could become confused about its core values was "too speculative."
Founded in the United States in 1978, Ben & Jerry's is known for championing progressive causes, including protecting the environment and promoting human rights, and has frequently released special ice cream flavours to support causes or in protest.
Contacted by AFP news agency on Monday, Ben & Jerry's declined to immediately comment on the decision.
Unilever did not respond to an AFP request for comment.
Source: AFP
Eighteen-year-old Waseem Khalifa was shot dead in Nablus city, medics say, adding occupying Israeli forces also wounded 30 Palestinians, three of whom critically.
Scouts gather around names carved in the sand of the children who were killed during the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza.
(AFP)
Israeli troops have killed a
Palestinian youth in the Israeli-occupied
West Bank city of Nablus and wounded dozens of others.
Palestinian medics identified the man who was killed early on Thursday as Waseem Khalifa, 18, from Balata, the largest refugee camp in the West Bank.
At least 30 Palestinians were wounded, four of whom were
shot with live ammunition and three of whom were in critical
condition, the Palestine Red Crescent said.
Witnesses said clashes erupted when Israeli forces arrived
to protect Jewish worshippers visiting Joseph's Tomb, a site
that has been a flashpoint.
The Israeli military told the Reuters news agency it was checking on the
incident.
Killings in Gaza
The fresh killing of a Palestinian comes after Israeli jets pounded the besieged Gaza enclave that saw Palestinian fighters responding with hundreds of rockets that wounded 70 Israelis.
At least 49 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, including civilians
and children, and hundreds more were wounded during 56 hours of
fighting.
Israeli forces have carried out near-daily raids in the occupied West
Bank in recent months.
The latest Israeli aggression on Gaza has left at least 44 Palestinians dead, including 15 children.
Palestinians celebrate on a street after a ceasefire was announced, in Israel blockaded Gaza August 8, 2022.
(Reuters)
An Egyptian-brokered cease-fire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad took effect late on Sunday at 11.30 p.m. local time (2030GMT).
The cease-fire agreement came after three days of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which left at least 44 Palestinians dead and over 360 others injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Egypt also called on both sides to observe a mutual and comprehensive truce in Gaza at that time.
An official Egyptian source cited by the state news agency MENA said Egypt was exerting efforts to release Palestinian prisoner Khalil Awawdeh and transport him for treatment, as well as Bassam Al Saadi, who is also in Israeli detention.
Palestine's Islamic Jihad in Gaza have confirmed earlier that they agreed to a Cairo-brokered truce after three days of intense aggression by Israel that has left at least 44 Palestinians in Gaza dead.
"A short while ago the wording of the Egyptian truce agreement was reached, which contains Egypt's commitment to work towards the release of two prisoners, (Bassem) al Saadi and (Khalil) Awawdeh," senior Islamic Jihad member Mohammad al Hindi said in a statement on Sunday.
Separately, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Palestinian Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh discussed Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Al Aqsa Mosque raids in a phone call.
Turkish Foreign Ministry on Israeli aggression against Gaza and Al Aqsa Mosque:
- Condemns attacks against civilians in Gaza - Fanatic Jewish groups raided Al Aqsa Mosque which is under protection of Israeli police - Calls on Israeli government not to allow such actions pic.twitter.com/SpoXFUitBw
At least 44 Palestinians were reported dead on Sunday, including 15 children, according to the Health Ministry.
The latest Israeli aggression since Friday has also left at least 311 civilians wounded, said the health authorities in Gaza, where several buildings were reduced to rubble.
Meanwhile, the United Nations' Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territories, Lynn Hastings, called for an immediate halt to escalation and violence in Gaza.
In a statement on Sunday, Hastings said Gaza's humanitarian situation "is already dire and can only worsen" with the current escalation.
“Hostilities must stop to avoid more deaths and injuries of civilians in Gaza and Israel,” she added.
The humanitarian coordinator reiterated the UN appeal to all sides "for an immediate de-escalation and halt to violence to avoid destructive ramifications, particularly for civilians."
The latest Israeli aggression on Gaza has left at least 43 Palestinians dead, including 15 children.
The United Nations' Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territories, Lynn Hastings, has called for an immediate halt of escalation and violence in Gaza.
(AFP)
Palestine's Islamic Jihad in Gaza have confirmed that they agreed to a Cairo-brokered truce after three days of intense aggression by Israel that has left at least 41 Palestinians in Gaza dead.
"A short while ago the wording of the Egyptian truce agreement was reached, which contains Egypt's commitment to work towards the release of two prisoners, (Bassem) al Saadi and (Khalil) Awawdeh," senior Islamic Jihad member Mohammad al Hindi said in a statement on Sunday.
The ceasefire is to start at 23:30 local time (20:30GMT), sources told Anadolu Agency.
Turkish Foreign Ministry on Israeli aggression against Gaza and Al Aqsa Mosque:
- Condemns attacks against civilians in Gaza - Fanatic Jewish groups raided Al Aqsa Mosque which is under protection of Israeli police - Calls on Israeli government not to allow such actions pic.twitter.com/SpoXFUitBw
At least 43 Palestinians were reported dead on Sunday, including 15 children, according to the Health Ministry.
The latest Israeli aggression since Friday has also left at least 311 civilians wounded, said the health authorities in Gaza, where several buildings were reduced to rubble.
Meanwhile, the United Nations' Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territories, Lynn Hastings, called for an immediate halt to escalation and violence in Gaza.
In a statement on Sunday, Hastings said Gaza's humanitarian situation "is already dire and can only worsen" with the current escalation.
“Hostilities must stop to avoid more deaths and injuries of civilians in Gaza and Israel,” she added.
The humanitarian coordinator reiterated the UN appeal to all sides "for an immediate de-escalation and halt to violence to avoid destructive ramifications, particularly for civilians."
