![]() ![]() Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar (R) released a statement that he has directed his office to determine if Ben & Jerry’s announcement would trigger action under a 2017 law that requires the state pension funds to divest from any company boycotting Israel, and Florida Gov. Thirty-three states have anti-BDS laws or executive orders, according to an online database. Maryland would not be the first state to take action against Ben & Jerry’s for their recent announcement. “It may take a bit of time and effort to determine if the state has any relevant contracts, and so we appreciate the governor’s efforts looking into this,” Libit said. “We appreciate how much they value Maryland’s relationship with Israel,” Libit said. “Accordingly, we will review state contracts to determine whether Ben & Jerry’s has existing contracts with the State of Maryland and the State will respond accordingly,” Wobensmith stated in the letter. Libit also shared a letter from Maryland Secretary of State John Wobensmith, speaking on behalf of the Hogan administration, to Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan, saying that the state is “committed to diversity and inclusion” and opposes all forms of discrimination “including boycotts of people or entities because of their Israeli national origin, or residence or incorporation in Israel and its territories.” The executive order, however, applies only to those business contracts dealing directly with agencies controlled by the governor’s office.Ī search of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management website turned up no results relating to state contracts with Ben & Jerry’s or Unilever. The executive order, signed by Hogan in October 2017, requires companies contracting with the executive branch of the state government to provide an affidavit certifying that it has not taken part in any boycott of Israel, defined as “the termination of or refusal to transact business activities, or other actions intended to limit commercial relations, with a person or entity because of its Israeli national origin, or residence or incorporation in Israel and its territories.”Īccording to the executive order, any false certification will constitute grounds for the bid to be rejected, or if a contract has already been awarded, for the contract to be terminated. We ask for a prompt and thorough review to take place, and we look forward to hearing the outcome,” stated the letter, signed by Libit and Halber. “We believe that this represents a BDS action, and if either company holds contracts with the State of Maryland, they are in violation of your Executive Order. The letter requests that the state do a review of contracts with Ben & Jerry’s and its parent company, Unilever. ![]() Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said the BJC and JCRC of Greater Washington sent a letter expressing their concerns to Gov. The statement said the company will remain in Israel through a “different arrangement.” “We’re glad that there will be a state review of any and all state contracts to determine if Ben & Jerry’s has any existing contracts with the state of Maryland,” said Ronald Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.īen & Jerry’s issued a statement on July 19 that, beginning in 2023, it will end its contract with its current licensee in Israel to sell Ben & Jerry’s products in the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” when its current license agreement expires. We do not share data with third party vendors. Get Baltimore Jewish Times Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories ![]()
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