The Israeli NGO Shurat HaDin has moved to take over the Ben & Jerry’s trademark in the West Bank settlements and Jewish areas of east Jerusalem in order to make and sell ice cream under the well-known brand name.
Shurat haDin explained that the move was possible because Ben & Jerry’s global and parent company, Unilever, had planned to stop sales to those regions as a result of an opposition to Israeli policies.
Israel Law Center Shurat HaDin’s President Nitsana Darash-Leitner has written to Unilever (a British company that is the owner of Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont since 2000) in which she wrote, “The Shurat HaDin Law Center now has registered an entity for business with the Israeli register of corporations called Judea and Samaria’s Ben & Jerry’s.”
Darshan Leitner has stated that they are planning to use Ben & Jerry’s brand, and to match Vermont’s current line of ice cream, and add new flavors and products. Darshan Leitner also wrote that she is confident the company can be expanded into all communities within the area in which it has been abandoned.
aviel darshan leitner Unilever has been informed by the company that the Ben & Jerry’s brand was no longer permitted to be used within the territory. https://academicinfluence.com/people/nitsana-darshanleitner The boycott won’t commence until 2023, when the agreement with the local ice cream producer expires.
Avi Zinger, the proprietor of the Israel franchise, has made his position clear that he does not plan to quit the Green Line in regards to ice cream sales.
https://maxsteinbergisraelleaders.com/speakers/nitsana-darshan-leitner/ Israel Law Center However, Shurat HaDin wrote to Unilever, “we will actively and aggressively defend our Ben & Jerry’s brand name rights, trademarks and rights in the area by all legal avenues.”
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9955357/ The Jerusalem Post was informed by her that sales will be restricted to regions from which Ben & Jerry’s had withdrawn. The company’s commitment to sell to regions of Israel that aren’t part of “Occupied Palestinian Territory” means that the new Ben & Jerry’s can not be sold there.
Darshan Leitner stated that due to bureaucratic as well as technical problems, ice cream sales would not begin until after the Israeli franchise agreement has expired.