Gastonia Times

North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell has mandated the divestment of $40 million in Unilever assets and imposed contract restrictions on Ben & Jerry’s due to the company's boycott of Israel. Folwell asserts that state law requires adherence to regulations prohibiting investment in companies that boycott Israel.

According to a press release by his office, Folwell said: "We have policies in place per state law that dictate how we should proceed on any holdings in the retirement system of companies that boycott Israel and their affiliates. We will follow our policies and the law. This is particularly important in this case as we have witnessed the atrocities perpetrated against the Israeli people. There is no place for antisemitism in this state or this country."

The same press release from Folwell's office indicates that this action extends to Ben & Jerry’s affiliates, including its parent company, Unilever PLC, and other subsidiaries under the Unilever umbrella. Folwell also directed local governments and state agencies to be informed that they are not permitted to enter into contracts with either Ben & Jerry’s or its parent company, Unilever PLC.

The North Carolina Retirement Systems provides retirement benefits and savings for more than 1 million members. Folwell manages the $118 billion North pension fund, which benefits teachers, police officers, and other public workers such as firefighters, police officers and government employees. 

Ben & Jerry's issued a statement on its website emphasizing a distinction between Israel's democratic territory and the territories it occupies. They clarified that their decision to halt sales beyond Israel's democratic borders is not a boycott of Israel.