In addition to WUR, the activists also criticized Nestlé and Unilever. Photo Resource Agreement on the peace plan for Gaza does not mean the end of the protests by Wageningen4Palestine, nor of their demand that WUR sever ties with Israeli universities. This became clear yesterday afternoon in Orion, where a number of activists made themselves heard during WUR Career Day.
When the activists unfurled their banner and made their case via megaphone, security guards rushed to the scene almost immediately. They did not intervene when the activists ignored the request to leave the hall.
WUR, Nestlé, and Unilever
This time, the protest was not only directed at WUR, but also at Career Day participants Unilever and Nestlé. ‘We want to make students who are exploring the job market aware that these employers probably have different values than they do,’ said one activist.
The relationship between Unilever and Israel is often a topic of debate. For example, Unilever previously described itself as “fully committed” to doing business with Israel, including the occupied territories. Recently, the departure of Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry’s, which was acquired by Unilever, was in the news. Greenfield has been protesting against the situation in Gaza for years. He claims that Unilever wanted to silence its subsidiary on issues of human rights and justice.
Laconically and peacefully
When questioned by Resource, the companies participating in Career Day remained noncommittal about what they thought of the protest. The responses were mainly laconic: ‘The megaphone makes it difficult to talk to interested students. Instead, we’re just giving them a brochure, so they can always approach us afterwards,’ said a trainee from the Bakker company.
Resource had no insight into how Unilever and Nestlé responded to the activists. But the activists were not hindered by anyone and the protest remained peaceful. After about an hour and a half, the activists left when the police summoned them to do so, threatening arrests if they did not comply.
Translated using DeepL.
