Latest news with #BenCohen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Israel's actions in Gaza are genocide, says Ben & Jerry's
The independent board of Ben & Jerry's has claimed that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza in a move that threatens to further inflame tensions with its parent company Unilever. The ice cream brand, known for its outspoken approach to social issues, said: 'We join with those around the world who denounce the genocide in Gaza. 'We stand with all who raise their voices against genocide in Gaza – from petition-signers to street marchers to those risking arrest.' The independent board made the comments in a statement seen by Reuters. Its description of Israel's actions as genocide comes just weeks after one of the brand's co-founders, Ben Cohen, was arrested in the US Senate for protesting against the provision of military aid to Israel during testimony by Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary. The statement by the independent board threatens to deepen the disagreement between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever. The two sides have been at odds over Israel and Gaza for many months. The ice cream brand sued Unilever in November 2024, claiming that the company had attempted to block it from making public statements about the conflict. The two companies have clashed over Israel before, including in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's stopped selling its ice cream in the occupied West Bank, arguing that doing business there was 'inconsistent' with its values. In response, Unilever sold its Israeli ice cream business, causing a legal battle that was later resolved. Founded by Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978 in Vermont, Ben & Jerry's has repeatedly spoken out on issues such as refugees' rights, LGBTQ+ issues and climate change. Though it has been owned by Unilever since 2000, an agreement was written into its $326m (£241m) acquisition deal to allow the company to continue operating with an independent board. This effectively protected the company's ability to take a stand on social issues. However, Ben & Jerry's has accused its owner of undermining that deal. In March, the brand accused Unilever of ousting Dave Stever, its chief executive, over his outspoken approach to political and social issues, rather than because of performance. Escalating tensions threaten to overshadow the much-anticipated spin-off of Unilever's ice cream arm into a separate business in an effort to streamline and focus on its core business of consumer goods such as Dove soap and Hellmann's mayonnaise. A Unilever spokesman said: 'We took notice of the comments made by members of the social mission board of Ben & Jerry's. 'Unilever supports efforts for a peaceful resolution and the end of violence to conflicts around the world. Unilever is in litigation with the above mentioned board and will not comment on its positions.' Ben & Jerry's and its founders were approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Israel's actions in Gaza are genocide, says Ben & Jerry's
The independent board of Ben & Jerry's has claimed that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza in a move that threatens to further inflame tensions with its parent company Unilever. The ice cream brand, known for its outspoken approach to social issues, said: 'We join with those around the world who denounce the genocide in Gaza. 'We stand with all who raise their voices against genocide in Gaza – from petition-signers to street marchers to those risking arrest.' The independent board made the comments in a statement seen by Reuters. Its description of Israel's actions as genocide comes just weeks after one of the brand's co-founders, Ben Cohen, was arrested in the US Senate for protesting against the provision of military aid to Israel during testimony by Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary. The statement by the independent board threatens to deepen the disagreement between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever. The two sides have been at odds over Israel and Gaza for many months. The ice cream brand sued Unilever in November 2024, claiming that the company had attempted to block it from making public statements about the conflict. The two companies have clashed over Israel before, including in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's stopped selling its ice cream in the occupied West Bank, arguing that doing business there was 'inconsistent' with its values. In response, Unilever sold its Israeli ice cream business, causing a legal battle that was later resolved. Founded by Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978 in Vermont, Ben & Jerry's has repeatedly spoken out on issues such as refugees' rights, LGBTQ+ issues and climate change. Though it has been owned by Unilever since 2000, an agreement was written into its $326m (£241m) acquisition deal to allow the company to continue operating with an independent board. This effectively protected the company's ability to take a stand on social issues. However, Ben & Jerry's has accused its owner of undermining that deal. In March, the brand accused Unilever of ousting Dave Stever, its chief executive, over his outspoken approach to political and social issues, rather than because of performance.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Israel's actions in Gaza are genocide, says Ben & Jerry's
The independent board of Ben & Jerry's has claimed that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza in a move that threatens to further inflame tensions with its parent company Unilever. The ice cream brand, known for its outspoken approach to social issues, said: 'We join with those around the world who denounce the genocide in Gaza. 'We stand with all who raise their voices against genocide in Gaza – from petition-signers to street marchers to those risking arrest.' The independent board made the comments in a statement seen by Reuters. Its description of Israel's actions as genocide comes just weeks after one of the brand's co-founders, Ben Cohen, was arrested in the US Senate for protesting against the provision of military aid to Israel during testimony by Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary. The statement by the independent board threatens to deepen the disagreement between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever. The two sides have been at odds over Israel and Gaza for many months. The ice cream brand sued Unilever in November 2024, claiming that the company had attempted to block it from making public statements about the conflict. The two companies have clashed over Israel before, including in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's stopped selling its ice cream in the occupied West Bank, arguing that doing business there was 'inconsistent' with its values. In response, Unilever sold its Israeli ice cream business, causing a legal battle that was later resolved. Founded by Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978 in Vermont, Ben & Jerry's has repeatedly spoken out on issues such as refugees' rights, LGBTQ+ issues and climate change. Though it has been owned by Unilever since 2000, an agreement was written into its $326m (£241m) acquisition deal to allow the company to continue operating with an independent board. This effectively protected the company's ability to take a stand on social issues. However, Ben & Jerry's has accused its owner of undermining that deal. In March, the brand accused Unilever of ousting Dave Stever, its chief executive, over his outspoken approach to political and social issues, rather than because of performance. Escalating tensions threaten to overshadow the much-anticipated spin-off of Unilever's ice cream arm into a separate business in an effort to streamline and focus on its core business of consumer goods such as Dove soap and Hellmann's mayonnaise. A Unilever spokesman said: 'We took notice of the comments made by members of the social mission board of Ben & Jerry's. 'Unilever supports efforts for a peaceful resolution and the end of violence to conflicts around the world. Unilever is in litigation with the above mentioned board and will not comment on its positions.' Ben & Jerry's and its founders were approached for comment.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unilever's Ben & Jerry's declares war in Gaza a 'genocide'
STORY: :: May 14, 2025 Ben & Jerry's independent board has branded the conflict in Gaza a genocide. :: Eisenhower Media Network Two weeks after its co-founder Ben Cohen was arrested for protesting the war in Gaza during a Senate hearing. The move has further escalated a bitter feud with its longtime corporate parent Unilever. :: Ben & Jerry's In a statement seen by Reuters, Ben & Jerry's said it 'believes in human rights and advocates for peace, and we join with those around the world who denounce the genocide in Gaza.' Unilever said these comments reflect the views of the independent social mission board of Ben & Jerry's… Adding that it calls for peace and relief in the region. Ben & Jerry's has been at odds with the packaged goods giant since at least 2021 when the ice cream label said it would stop selling its products in the Israel-occupied West Bank. The company also sued Unilever last year for allegedly attempting to silence it on Gaza - but Unilever asked a judge to dismiss the case. The multinational group said it's in the process of separating out its ice cream businesses to an independent company this summer. Ben & Jerry's has said its merger agreement with Unilever in 2000 gave its independent board "primary responsibility" to pursue the company's social mission. :: Ben & Jerry's The crux of the dispute between Ben & Jerry's and Unilever is how much leeway the board actually has. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Irish Examiner
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Irish pro-Palestine activists embrace 'Paddystinian' term as badge of honour
The term was coined to disparage Ireland's solidarity with Palestine but has been adopted as a badge of honour that now adorns T-shirts, hoodies, pins and social media bios: welcome to Paddystine, home of the Paddystinians. Irish activists have embraced the neologism as a galvanising term to campaign against Israel's war in Gaza and to pressure the government to do more to end the conflict. The belief that it was originally intended as an insult by Israel supporters has fuelled its spread on TikTok and other platforms where Irish people proclaim themselves 'Paddystinians' and also, in a repurposing of the old-fashioned female name Biddy, 'Biddystinians'. 'It was being used as a negative,' Ross McGann, who has nearly 40,000 followers on TikTok, said this week. 'Once I heard that I thought: 'Nah, we can flip this around.' It's a very Irish thing to do – you take an insult and you flip it back.' The 35-year-old content creator, who lives on a farm in Co Offaly, incorporated Paddystinian into his TikTok bio and into his videos, which have been widely shared. 'The word paddy has been used in a derogatory sense towards Irish people but in my family we have lots of Patricks, so to us paddy is a positive word. Given what's happening in Gaza I thought it's only fair that we own it. The proliferation of the term has added another strand to Irish activism on Gaza amid controversy over outspoken statements by the rap group Kneecap. With one of its members facing a terror charge in the UK, there is a question mark over the group's invitation to perform at Glastonbury next month. The origin of the term Paddystinian is unclear but many first heard of it in December after Israel closed its embassy in Dublin to protest what it said was government antisemitism and extreme hostility. Pro-Israeli voices online combined Paddy with Palestinian to underscore the accusation that Ireland, by recognising Palestinian statehood and lobbying the EU for a tougher line on Israel, was rewarding terrorism by Hamas. Ben Cohen, a columnist for the Jewish News Syndicate, wrote that he initially regretted making a quip about Paddystinians because Paddy was an ageing pejorative about drunkenness and other Irish stereotypes. 'As it turns out, I needn't have worried,' he wrote. 'I discovered that the hashtag #Paddystinian was being eagerly adopted on social media by Irish supporters of Hamas. The accompanying posts were variously obnoxious or downright stupid, with many of those mocking the assertion that their country is antisemitic.' Zoë Lawlor, the chair of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, welcomed the adoption of the term. 'It was being used as an insult. People here thought that was hilarious so we really embraced it and turned it on its head. We started having fun with it at chants. Lots of people changed their Twitter names and social media handles to reflect that.' Garments, badges, pins and other accessories emblazoned with 'Paddystinian' have become popular merchandise. Some producers, such as the progressive campaign group Uplift, donate the proceeds to aid for Gaza. Izzeddeen Alkarajeh, a Palestinian who serves Palestinian cuisine at Izz Cafe in Cork, sells Paddystinian pins. 'It quickly became one of our top-selling items. It's a beautiful example of how a term meant to mock can be reclaimed and redefined by the community,' he said via email. The term amplifies awareness about Palestine among young Irish people, as do the Kneecap trio, who visited the cafe in February, said Mr Alkarajeh. 'Ireland has consistently shown solidarity with the oppressed, and this is especially evident now in the face of the ongoing crisis in Gaza.' Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland, lauded Irish solidarity. 'Any link between the Irish people and the Palestinian people is a positive one. I hope the Irish people feel the same. We share the same history of colonisation and know too well how important freedom, justice, and human rights are.' Activists say their goal is to leverage online solidarity to pressure the Irish state to match tough statements on Israel with actions, such as an enacting a bill to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank, ending the Central Bank's authorisation of Israeli state bond sales in Europe and curbing the use of Irish airspace for flights suspected of carrying war material to Israel. 'Our pressure point is the Irish government,' said Ms Lawlor. 'The rhetoric is very strong but they have to back it up with actions. If they do that we can start a snowball effect within the EU.'
