Ben & Jerry's: Where They Stand on Israel
In 2021, Ben & Jerry's announced it would stop selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, and has since gone to court more than once to defend a pro-Palestinian position.
On the record
- July 2021 — Announced it would end sales in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stating: "We believe it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry's ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory." [Ben & Jerry's statement]
- 2022 — Sued its parent company, Unilever, over the sale of its Israeli business that allowed sales to continue in Israel and the West Bank. [Reuters]
- 2024 — Sued Unilever again, alleging it was blocked from making public statements in support of Palestinians and a ceasefire in Gaza. [Reuters]
The context
Ben & Jerry's frames these actions as consistent with a long-standing social-justice mission, driven by an independent board that kept authority over the brand's social positions after Unilever acquired it.
Where Galil stands
Our opinion: Ben & Jerry's went to court — twice — to defend its right to lecture the world about Palestinians. We never once saw it aim that megaphone at the Israeli families under rocket fire or the hostages taken from their beds. We think that's a choice, and a spineless one. We don't stand with them. There are better ways to spend six dollars.
The facts on this page are documented public statements and actions, sourced and linked, current as of July 2026. Everything under "Where Galil stands" is our opinion. If you believe a factual claim here is inaccurate or out of date, email us and we'll review and correct it promptly.