Gov. Ron DeSantis and state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis praised Ben & Jerry鈥檚 parent company for a decision that will allow sales of ice cream in Israel. But that doesn鈥檛 mean Florida will immediately return to investing or contracting with the parent company, Unilever, and its subsidiaries.
Over the objection of Ben & Jerry鈥檚, Unilever on Tuesday announced an agreement that will lead to Avi Zinger, an Israeli manufacturer and distributor of the brand, selling ice cream independently under the product鈥檚 Hebrew and Arabic names in Israel and the West Bank.
DeSantis said in a Twitter post that the move by Unilever is 鈥渁 step in the right direction,鈥� but he remained 鈥渄isappointed they took a year to stand against鈥� a movement that involves boycotting Israel, divesting and imposing sanctions.
Last year, the State Board of Administration, which oversees Florida鈥檚 pension fund and other investments, advised Unilever it had been placed on Florida鈥檚 list of 鈥淪crutinized Companies that Boycott Israel鈥� after Ben & Jerry鈥檚 said 鈥渋t is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry鈥檚 ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.鈥�
State Board of Administration spokeswoman Emilie Oglesby said in an email Friday that 鈥渁t this time, it does not appear that the status of Unilever remaining on the state鈥檚 鈥楽crutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List鈥� would change.鈥�
When the state board took action last year, Florida had about $139 million in holdings in Unilever and its subsidiaries. 鈥淎s we continue to review and learn more about this development, we will analyze such in the context of our statutory directives and act accordingly,鈥� Oglesby said in the email.
Copyright 2022 WFSU. To see more, visit . 9(MDAyNDY5MjM1MDEyODE2MzMyMTZmZDQwMg001))
