ADC sent the following letter to Ben&Jerry’s to express concerns over a recent agreement signed between the ice cream giant and Mei Eden, an Israeli water company operating illegally in the Golan Heights.
You are urged to send letters of complaint to Ben&Jerry’s for helping legitimize Israeli violation of international law. (Note that no e-mail address is available; but please take the time to send a letter via snail mail).
Please cc your correspondence to ADC.
August 24, 1998
Mr. Perry Odak
Chief Executive Officer
Ben&Jerry’s Homemade, Inc.
30 Community Drive
South Burlington, VT 05403-6828
Dear Mr. Odak:
On behalf of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), I am writing to express grave concerns over a recent agreement signed between Ben&Jerry’s Homemade, Inc., and Mei Eden, an Israeli water company operating illegally in the occupied Golan Heights.
We find these news distressing coming from a company which has brought us
such quality products and has prided itself on its efforts to promote humanitarian issues and the safeguarding of our environment.
The Golan Heights, an integral part of Syria, was occupied by Israel as aresult of the 1967 Six-Day War. Its subsequent annexation in 1981 was
condemned by the international community and was not recognized by any
country. Our own government does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over
this land.
By going through with this agreement, you are essentially legitimizing Israeli violation of international law and illegal occupation of Arab land.
Such a move is alarming to the more than 3 million Arab Americans and their friends around the country, as well as to countless individuals who are concerned about the promotion of a just and stable peace in the Middle East.
Should you decide to go ahead with this agreement, you would leave us no
choice but to recommend that our members and their friends cease purchasing your products as a sign of protest.
I look forward to your prompt reply.
Sincerely,
Hala Maksoud
President
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
4201 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20008, U.S.A.
Tel: (202) 244-2990, Fax: (202) 244-3196
E-mail: adc@adc.org
Web : https://www.adc.org