Washington Free Beacon "Texas may divest from Ben & Jerry's parent company after the ice cream manufacturer announced it will end operations in Israeli-controlled territories, the state's head financial officer said Thursday.
" 'I've directed my staff to determine whether any specific action taken by Ben & Jerry's or Unilever would trigger a listing under Chapter 808 of the Texas Government Code," which prohibits the state's pension fund from investing in companies that refuse to operate in an "Israeli-controlled territory," State Comptroller Glenn Hegar told CNBC.
"The move follows Ben & Jerry's announcement Monday that the company will no longer sell its products in "Occupied Palestinian Territory," referring to the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Texas statute applies to parent companies and could force the state to divest its multibillion-dollar retirement fund from Unilever, which purchased the ice cream company in 2000.
"Ben & Jerry's boycott could also force a dozen other states with similar laws, including New Jersey, Illinois, and Florida, to divest from the British conglomerate. Florida chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis, who manages his state's pension fund, said his office is evaluating the issue, according to CNBC. More than 30 states have anti-boycott laws and executive orders, including measures that could prohibit state governments from working with Unilever and Ben & Jerry's." . . .
Meet Ben & Jerry’s Board Chair: Anti-Israel Activist Has Published Defenses of Hezbollah, Hamas . . . "Ben & Jerry's is under increased scrutiny for its decision to join the anti-Israel boycott movement, which follows criticism over the ice cream maker's partnership with anti-Semitic figures during the Women's March in 2018. At the time, the company defended its work with Linda Sarsour, one of the march leaders who was ousted for anti-Semitism. Multiple state and local governments, including Texas and Florida, are considering sanctioning Ben & Jerry's and its parent company, Unilever, over the boycott decision.
"Mittal published an article written by Green Party Senate candidate Todd Chretien during the Israel-Lebanon war in 2006 arguing that progressives should support Hezbollah.
What do the heads of B&J think of the Fogel Family massacre in Itamar, Israel?