Phoenix (AP) —Arizona sells $ 93 million in Uniriva bonds and subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s decides to stop selling ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories, investing in consumer products companies worldwide We plan to sell the remaining $ 50 million. The latest in a series of actions by a state with anti-Israeli boycott law.
Kimberly Yee, Secretary of State for Investment Transfer, announced this week, is mandated by 2019 state law prohibiting Arizona government agencies from investing in or trading more than $ 100,000 with companies that boycott Israel or its territory. Was done.
Arizona appears to be the first of 35 anti-boycott or regulated states to completely withdraw from Unilever following Ben & Jerry’s actions. Illinois warned in July that 90 days had passed since the investment committee met to change course, or that it would also be sold. Florida and other states have taken similar steps, according to the IAC For Action, the policy and legislative body of the Israeli-American Council.
Ben & Jerry’s is owned by London-based Unilever, but maintains its own independent board of directors, which states that Unilever has made its own decisions about its social mission. Ben & Jerry’s announced on July 19 that maintaining its presence in the occupied territories “is inconsistent with our values.”
Ben & Jerry’s decision has led to a strong reaction from Israel, which has vowed to “act positively” in response, including urging the Governor to punish the company under anti-boycott law. rice field. Arizona and 34 other states have laws banning boycotts of Israel.
US groups in favor of Israel are divided on whether it is appropriate to push Unilever back for Ben & Jerry’s decision. The Israeli-American Council has urged the governor to act through IAC For Action.
Joseph Sabag, director of IAC for Action, called on Israeli anti-Semitic boycotts and said it was important to fight them at the state level.
“The Israeli-American community is sensitive to it. We say more than the rest of the Jewish-American community, so we experience aspects of anti-Semitic national origin in a more obvious way. I did, “Sabag said on Friday. “That’s why we’re so active. It’s our children who are affected, feared, threatened and harassed in the classroom … it’s definitely us. Is a community concern. “
However, the head of J Street, a Washington, DC-based pro-Israeli organization that supports a two-state solution, upheld Ben & Jerry’s decision and said punishing the company was “extremely dangerous.” ..
“It is not anti-Semitism to criticize Israeli policy or not sell ice cream in illegal settlements,” President Jeremy Benami tweeted in July. “It’s really really a pro-Israel decision.”
Anti-boycott legislation faces court challenges, as it did after Arizona was first enacted in 2016.
A judge in the US District Court in Arizona blocked execution while the proceedings were in progress, but the state legislature changed the law to apply only to contracts over $ 100,000 and to flagstaff men. The proceedings have virtually ended because they are gone. The state was ordered to pay $ 115,000 for his attorney’s fees.
In Arkansas, weekly newspaper publishers have sought to block law in the state for similar reasons. The judge dismissed the proceeding, deciding that “the boycott of Israel is neither speech nor an act of expression in nature” protected by the First Amendment. However, a panel of three judges from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived the Arkansas Times proceedings in February, saying, “The support or promotion of Israeli boycotts is constitutionally protected … The law requires government contractors to refrain from such constitutionally protected activities. “
Judgment is not the last word. In June, a judge in the 8th Circuit agreed to hear the case and abandoned the decisions of the three judges. They are set to hear discussions in the case later this month.
Both proceedings were filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Meanwhile, in Arizona, Yi sent a letter to Unilever’s investor relations department on September 2, and Ben & Jerry’s operates independently, but if the decision is not revoked, Arizona law will be Unilever. He told the company that he was obliged to sell his assets.
“I gave Ben & Jerry’s parent company Unilever PLC an ultimatum. Either reverse Ben & Jerry’s behavior or sell Ben & Jerry’s to comply with Arizona law or face the consequences. “I will,” said Republican Yee. He said he was running for governor in a statement. “They chose the latter.”
Unilever has never supported Israeli boycotts (commonly known as boycott withdrawal sanctions (BDS)) in a letter to Deputy Treasury Secretary Mark Swenson on August 2, but Ben & Jerry’s became independent. Said that it is being operated. The company made no additional comments.
Arizona’s investment was in fixed income and commercial paper held by the state’s short-term bond investment fund.
Arizona Law, enacted in 2016 and amended in 2019, was signed by Republican Governor Doug Ducey with widespread bipartisan support. He tweeted that Ben & Jerry’s decision was “discrimination.”
“Arizona will not do business with a company that boycotts Israel. In 2016 and 2019, I signed a bill to ensure that,” the tweet said. “Arizona stands with Israel.”
Arizona sells Unilever bonds in Israeli move by Ben & Jerry’s | WGN Radio 720
Source link Arizona sells Unilever bonds in Israeli move by Ben & Jerry’s | WGN Radio 720
The post Arizona sells Unilever bonds in Israeli move by Ben & Jerry’s | WGN Radio 720 appeared first on Illinois News Today.
No comments:
Post a Comment