The ongoing legal dispute between Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever has resurfaced once again. The ice cream company, known for its advocacy of progressive causes, made headlines in 2021 when it announced it would no longer allow its products to be sold in “Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Now, Ben & Jerry’s is alleging that Unilever is engaging in censorship and intimidation tactics over the company’s support for Palestinians, particularly during Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
In a new lawsuit filed recently, Ben & Jerry’s claims that Unilever attempted to dissolve the ice cream maker’s independent board and prevent the brand from taking pro-Palestinian stances on the conflict. The lawsuit alleges that Unilever tried to stop Ben & Jerry’s from advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, supporting Palestinian refugees, backing college students protesting the war, and calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.
The lawsuit also accuses Unilever of threatening to dismantle Ben & Jerry’s board and take legal action against individual members if they continued to endorse a ceasefire. Unilever’s head of its ice cream unit, Peter ter Kulve, and head of litigation, Jeff Eglash, were reportedly involved in attempting to intimidate board members. The lawsuit further claims that Unilever expressed concerns about the perception of antisemitism if Ben & Jerry’s continued to support Palestinian refugees.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Unilever prevented Ben & Jerry’s from directing part of a $5 million settlement received in 2022 to groups assisting Palestinian refugees, including the anti-Zionist organization Jewish Voice for Peace. Unilever objected to JVP’s criticism of Israel and sought to maintain a “neutral” stance on the conflict. Ben & Jerry’s pointed out Unilever’s financial contributions to Israeli organizations with ties to the Israeli military in response.
The conflict between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever dates back to 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s announced it would stop selling products in “Occupied Palestinian Territory,” leading to backlash from Israeli politicians and some American Jewish groups. This decision sparked legal and financial battles, with several U.S. states divesting from Unilever and a lawsuit being filed by an Israeli company that had owned Ben & Jerry’s Israel factories.
Despite attempts to resolve the dispute, including Unilever selling its Israeli business interest in Ben & Jerry’s to AQP, the tensions between the two companies have persisted. Ben & Jerry’s has consistently opposed Unilever’s decisions regarding the sale and has taken legal action to block it, citing the need to protect the brand’s social integrity.
In December 2022, Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s reached a resolution in the ongoing legal battle. The terms of the agreement were kept confidential, but Unilever confirmed that the sale of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in Israel and the West Bank would continue.