Town Of Hempstead Reaffirms Support Of Israel In BDS Opposition

HEMPSTEAD, NY — In the wake of Ben & Jerry's decision to stop selling their products in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin stood with rabbis in support of Israel Thursday.

The Vermont-based ice cream company joined the controversial Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement (BDS) that attempts to isolate Israel and other U.S. allies from the international community.

"Ben and Jerry’s decision to take a position in support of the BDS movement is nothing more than an anti-Israel declaration and a publicity stunt," Clavin said in a statement. "I stand by the Town of Hempstead’s commitment to refuse business from any purveyor that openly boycotts America, Israel and its allies."

Under the Town of Hempstead’s anti-BDS law, America’s largest township will cease any and all municipal business with Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company Unilever, they said in a news release. The Town of Hempstead adopted the anti-BDS legislation in 2016.

"At the Town of Hempstead, we stand with our Jewish neighbors against anti-Semitism and maintain a strong stance against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement," Councilman Bruce Blakeman said.