Posted on 07/29/21
| News Source: i24
State law prohibits investments in companies that refuse doing business with Israel
Illinois could become the first US state to divest from Unilever over the decision of its subsidiary Ben & Jerry's to stop ice cream sales in the West Bank.
The Israeli Boycott Restrictions Committee of the Illinois Investment Policy Board is planning to schedule a meeting to approve setting a 90-day deadline for Unilever to reverse the decision by the Vermont-based company, committee chairman Andy Lappin told the Associated Press.
If found non-compliant with state law against companies that boycott the Jewish state, then Unilever and Ben & Jerry's will face divestment. State-run pension systems are already looking at their portfolios for Unilever-related interests.
“We’ll meet in the next week or so just for this issue, asking the board to send a letter to Unilever giving it 90 days to confirm or deny” Ben & Jerry’s stance, Lappin said. “In this case, it was a blatantly open statement made by the chairman of Ben & Jerry’s and we need to determine if Unilever deems it appropriate to walk the statement back.”
Officials in Florida, Texas, New York, New Jersey are also reviewing whether Unilever and Ben & Jerry's are in violation of state laws against boycotting Israel.
Florida's governor is threatening legal action. Ron DeSantis sent a letter to the State Board of Administration of Florida, urging the agency to place Ben & Jerry's on its Continued Examination Companies that Boycott Israel List.
A total of 35 US states have laws to punish the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.