Ben & Jerry's vs Israel

[Barrister]

Ok fine. I looked it up and 90% of the Israeli population lives in Israel proper with 10% in the occupied territories. Sorry for missing the number by such a huge percentage that you didn't get the reference.

I was thinking of the Palestinian population in those territories and that it was nowhere close to being only 5% of the total population of Israel + the territories.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

it's always funny how other illegal occupations (Northern Cyprus, Western Saharan, Crimea, etc) never lead to calls for boycotts from these organisations. Makes it look as if it's not really about illegal occupations at all

[Valmy]

it's always funny how other illegal occupations (Northern Cyprus, Western Saharan, Crimea, etc) never lead to calls for boycotts from these organisations. Makes it look as if it's not really about illegal occupations at all

Whataboutism. Besides Russia has actual sanctions because of Crimea.

[grumbler]

it's always funny how other illegal occupations (Northern Cyprus, Western Saharan, Crimea, etc) never lead to calls for boycotts from these organisations. Makes it look as if it's not really about illegal occupations at all

It's funny how ideologues make up shit and say "it's always funny" when referring to the shit they just made up.  The reason "it's always funny" is because you are so fucking predictable.  Makes it look like it's not really about honesty at all.

[crazy canuck]

This could just be me but it seems like Israel is over-reacting.

I tend to agree.

In isolation, absolutely.  I can't imagine Ben & Jerry's is selling a whole lot of ice cream in the occupied territories.

But there is an overall context.  Israel has been subject for many years to the organized BDS movement (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions) for decades.  I understand the thinking that you can't just roll over on the small instances, as they just grow bigger and bigger.

So in your view should a private company be forced by the state to renew a contract it does not wish to renew?

[Valmy]

Ok fine. I looked it up and 90% of the Israeli population lives in Israel proper with 10% in the occupied territories. Sorry for missing the number by such a huge percentage that you didn't get the reference.

I was thinking of the Palestinian population in those territories and that it was nowhere close to being only 5% of the total population of Israel + the territories.

Ah I see. Good point.

I was not clear if Ben and Jerry would still be selling Ice Cream in areas of non-Israel settlement. Like those Hamas militiamen might need a sweet treat after a tough day.

[Sheilbh]

In isolation, absolutely.  I can't imagine Ben & Jerry's is selling a whole lot of ice cream in the occupied territories.

But there is an overall context.  Israel has been subject for many years to the organized BDS movement (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions) for decades.  I understand the thinking that you can't just roll over on the small instances, as they just grow bigger and bigger.

I don't really have an issue with any of that in relation to the West Bank - and I'm not convinced there's been much rolling over on the issue of settlements from Israel in the last decade or so.

[Barrister]

In isolation, absolutely.  I can't imagine Ben & Jerry's is selling a whole lot of ice cream in the occupied territories.

But there is an overall context.  Israel has been subject for many years to the organized BDS movement (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions) for decades.  I understand the thinking that you can't just roll over on the small instances, as they just grow bigger and bigger.

I don't really have an issue with any of that in relation to the West Bank - and I'm not convinced there's been much rolling over on the issue of settlements from Israel in the last decade or so.

I don't think there has - but Israel has also been pushing back hard against BDS during that time.

[Razgovory]

This could just be me but it seems like Israel is over-reacting.

Yeah, but they have a good reason. Several years ago Netanyahu gave a speech at the UN where he illustrated Israeli policy.  After the speech he wasn't looking at where he was going and ran into President Rouhani of Iran who was coming up to give his speech.  Both were knocked to the ground and papers flew every which way.  When both men realized who they had run into they frowned, quickly gathered their belongings, and stormed out.  Unfortunately, Netanyahu picked up the Iranian policy papers by mistake and has used them as governing and political policy ever since.

[Sheilbh]

I don't think there has - but Israel has also been pushing back hard against BDS during that time.

Sure - but in terms of protesting Israeli settlements and policy in the West Bank I don't feel like there's many options left short of boycotting (for products from the West Bank).

I think the soft diplomacy and concern of the Obama years were pretty comprehensively rejected - not least because in the Netanyanhu years Israel was playing at domestic American politics to an outrageous degree.

[Admiral Yi]

Doesn't boycotting products made in the West Bank end up hurting mostly Palestinian workers?

[Sheilbh]

Doesn't boycotting products made in the West Bank end up hurting mostly Palestinian workers?

I believe in Europe it's mandatory to label products from settlements "made in Israel", from Palestinian territories "made in Palestine". That ruling caused a lot of irritation in Israel - possibly for that very reason.

I mean it's not like there's much to boycott. Some produce/food but that's about it.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

it's always funny how other illegal occupations (Northern Cyprus, Western Saharan, Crimea, etc) never lead to calls for boycotts from these organisations. Makes it look as if it's not really about illegal occupations at all

It's funny how ideologues make up shit and say "it's always funny" when referring to the shit they just made up.  The reason "it's always funny" is because you are so fucking predictable.  Makes it look like it's not really about honesty at all.

funny how that's always the reaction when hypocrisy is revealed.

[Jacob]

funny how funny this thread is

[Barrister]

Doesn't boycotting products made in the West Bank end up hurting mostly Palestinian workers?

Sure.  I remember that coming up as an issue with Soda Stream - it's an Israeli company that manufactured some items in the West Bank and pointed out that fact.  The broader Palestinian community however still supports BDS.

Soda Stream eventually closed it's West Bank facilities in response to BDS pressure.