Ben & Jerry's Israeli arm forgoes new 'anti-Trump' flavor

Ben & Jerry's Israeli arm forgoes new 'anti-Trump' flavor

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/254216

Proceeds of Vermont ice cream company's new flavor go to groups including Women's March, whose leaders support BDS, Farrakhan.

Ben Sales - JTA, Arutz Sheva , 04/11/18 09:01

Ahead of US midterm elections, Vermont ice cream company Ben & Jerry's has announced its newest novelty flavor: Pecan Resist (a play, I think, on “we can resist”). The flavor is a tribute to various liberal activist groups that have led the opposition to the Trump administration. The drawing on the container features a trio of women of color holding a sign and protesting.

(The flavor, as described by Ben & Jerry’s, is “chocolate ice cream with white & dark fudge chunks, pecans, walnuts and fudge-covered almonds.”)

Proceeds from the flavor are going to a group of activist organizations, including Women’s March, which organized mass protests in cities worldwide on the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Some pro-Israel and Jewish leaders have criticized the group, as one of the co-chairs of Women’s March is Linda Sarsour, a Palestinian-American activist who supports the movement to boycott Israel and has made disparaging comments about Zionism. In addition, another co-chair, Tammika Mallory, is a vocal supporter of Louis Farrakhan, the virulently anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader.

Ben and Jerry’s posted a photo of a group of activists, including Sarsour, when announcing the flavor.

Ben & Jerry's✔@benandjerrysWe are proud to announce that our newest flavor, Pecan Resist, supports the important work of @netargv, @womensmarch, @ColorOfChange, and @HonorTheEarth. Join them here >> https://benjerrys.co/Resist

That didn’t sit well with some on social media. Yoav Aliasi, an Israeli rapper and right-wing activist, called on his followers to boycott Ben & Jerry’s because of the decision. His post has garnered 2,800 reactions and more than 1,400 shares.

“Ben and Jerry’s, the American Jewish ice cream producers, decided to name their new ice cream after a ‘Palestinian’ terror supporter named Linda Sarsour, who has become a symbol of anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel (a darling of the media and the American left),” Aliasi wrote.

Some of the replies to the Ben & Jerry’s tweet also expressed outrage at the choice.

📷Ben & Jerry's✔ · 30 באוק׳ 2018We are proud to announce that our newest flavor, Pecan Resist, supports the important work of @netargv, @womensmarch, @ColorOfChange, and @HonorTheEarth. Join them here >> https://benjerrys.co/Resist 📷

📷Joseph Steinberg✔@JosephSteinberg Just days after the worst anti-Semitic attack in US history, you honor a racist and anti-Semite who publicly told people not to "humanize" Israelis, and who stated that she was honored to share a stage with a convicted murderer of Jews? Are you crazy? #antisemitism #Jewish #News 18:56 - 31 באוק׳ 2018959305 אנשים מדברים על זה

Ben & Jerry’s responded by thanking one critic for the feedback but standing by the decision.

“We may not agree on everything, but the work that Linda has done to promote women’s rights is undeniably important and we are proud to join her in that effort,” the tweet said.

This isn’t Ben & Jerry’s first foray into politics via frozen deliciousness. In 2016, it created a flavor called “Empower Mint,” with peppermint and chunks of fudge. In 2015, the company’s founders, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, endorsed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for president.

The Israeli arm of Ben & Jerry’s said it won’t be selling the flavor, and said it doesn't get involved in U.S. politics.

“Ben & Jerry’s Israel is is an independent and blue and white [Israeli] company,” Ben & Jerry’s Israel said on its web site. ” We don’t have anything to do with the decisions of the international brand and we don’t interfere with local politics. It is important to mention that we do not intend to market [Pecan Resist] in Israel. We will continue to do and act for the community and for the company in Israel.”