CBN News – cbnnews.com
Arizona has become the first US state to fully divest from Ben & Jerry’s over its decision to stop selling ice cream in eastern Jerusalem and the West Bank – biblical Judea and Samaria.
Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee announced in a press release on Tuesday that “the state will divest all public funds from Ben & Jerry’s for violating Arizona law by boycotting Israel.”
By Sept. 21, Arizona will divest a total of $143 million from Ben & Jerry’s parent company Unilever.
“Israel is and will continue to be a major trade partner of Arizona. As Arizona’s Chief Banking and Investment Officer, I stand with Israel, and I will not allow taxpayer dollars to go towards anti-Semitic, discriminatory efforts against Israel,” said Yee.
The decision came after Ben & Jerry’s announced it would not sell ice cream in what it calls “occupied Palestinian territory.”