Avi Singer to the Chairman of the Constitution Committee, MK Gilad Karib: “Convene the committee headed by you in favor of approving the regulations of the boycott law and maintaining the resilience of the State of Israel”
A few weeks ago, the Ministers of Finance and Justice approved the regulations of the boycott law passed in the Knesset in 2011. To date, the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee has not convened to approve the regulations, despite more than a third of committee members requesting the committee.
Avi Singer, CEO and owner of Ben & Jerry’s Israel, addressed a letter to the chairman of the Constitution Committee, MK Gilad Karib. In his letter, Singer wrote: If the regulations of the boycott law are not approved, it may serve as ammunition against us and leave the impression that the State of Israel is not returning war against boycotts imposed on it. I address you on my behalf and on behalf of the factory workers. Convene the committee to approve the boycott law regulations this week, before going on recess. A boycott of the State of Israel deserves to have a high price tag. The issue must not be left unanswered. “
Singer also notes the background to the request: “In July 2021, Unilever Global informed me that it required me to stop supplying ice cream to parts of Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. After refusing the illegal requirement, Unilever announced that its contract with me would not be renewed at the end of 2022. Joint activity It should be emphasized that in fact its demand, Unilever violated the Israeli boycott law, hereinafter – the Law for the Prevention of Harassment in the State of Israel, 2011.
Singer further states: “A boycott of the State of Israel intentionally avoiding economic, cultural or academic contact with a person or other entity, only because of its affiliation with the State of Israel, an institution of its institutions or an area under its control, which could harm it economically, culturally or academically. In addition, Unilever’s requirement is contrary to the Prohibition of Discrimination in Products, Services and Entry into Places of Entertainment and Public Places Law, 2000: Anyone who is engaged in providing a product or public service or operating a public place shall not discriminate in providing the product or public service in the place of business. Or in providing a service in a public place, because of a place of residence. “
In his letter, Singer adds: “It should also be noted that from July 2021, the State of Israel, in cooperation with the Jewish communities, succeeded in causing states such as New York, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Arizona and others to enforce boycott laws against Unilever. , Holdings and pension funds worth about $ 1 billion so far.In the background, exactly six months after the announcement of Unilever collapsed by 20.7% which constitutes a decrease in the value of the stock worth $ 26 billion.But unfortunately, here in the State of Israel, “In the boycotting companies, nothing is done. Here, Unilever continues to supply products to the various government ministries and receives far-reaching regulatory benefits.”