Well hidden in the article "Ben & Jerry’s to Stop Selling Ice Cream in Israeli-Occupied Territories" was a hint about what the BDS movement is really all about, as clearly expressed by Omar Barghouti, the most prominent of the founders and leaders: "Definitely, most definitely, we oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No Palestinian, rational Palestinian, not a sell out Palestinian, would ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine."

By casting its lot into that inherently and irredeemably antisemitic movement, Ben & Jerry's has betrayed its stated commitment to social justice and human rights. Anuradha Mittal, the chairman of the Ben & Jerry's board, has publicly criticized its parent company, Unilever, for changing his original intent to completely boycott the only democracy in the Middle East, saying "They are trying to destroy the soul of the company."

Wrong, Anuradha. By placing Ben & Jerry's on the side of Palestinian Arabs who abhor most of the values you claim to support, rather than the Israelis who actually live - and sometimes die for - those values, you have already destroyed the soul of the company.

Sincerely,

Alan Stein