The chief executive of Unilever on Thursday said the global consumer goods giant remains �fully committed� to doing business in Israel, distancing himself from this week�s announcement by the company�s Ben & Jerry�s ice cream brand to stop serving Israel�s West Bank settlements.

But CEO Alan Jope gave no indication that Unilever would force Ben & Jerry�s to roll back its controversial decision.

Ben & Jerry�s announcement is one of the strongest rebukes by a well-known company against Israel�s settlements. The Israeli government has condemned the decision, accusing the company of joining a global Palestinian-led boycott movement against Israel and urging 35 American states with anti-boycott laws to sanction Unilever.

In a conference call with investors, Jope said that Ben & Jerry�s, which has a long history of social activism, had made the decision on its own.

He noted that under its purchase agreement with Ben & Jerry�s in 2000, the company maintained broad independence over its social justice policies and that Unilever respected that arrangement.

�Obviously it�s a complex and sensitive matter that elicits very strong feelings,� he said. �If there is one message I want to underscore in this call, it�s that Unilever remains fully committed to our business in Israel.�

That includes a new 35 million euro ($41 million) razor factory and corporate offices and facilities that employ some 2,000 people, he said.

He said �it is not our intent� to regularly delve into such sensitive matters.

�It�s been a longstanding issue for Ben & Jerry�s,� he said. �We were aware of this decision by the brand and its independent board, but it�s certainly not our intention that every quarter will have one quite as fiery as this one.�

(AP)