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One of the co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry's has stated how corporate owner Unilever stopped the launch of an innovative Palestine-themed frozen dessert product.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with his partner, disclosed that he will personally create this new flavor as part of a personal series showcasing issues Ben & Jerry's was prevented from speaking out about.

Longstanding Dispute Involving Creators and Parent Company

This latest development intensifies the ongoing tension among the internationally recognized ice cream maker and Unilever, the UK-based packaged goods giant which acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

The co-founders have claimed how the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem of Support

The entrepreneur revealed through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-based frozen dessert, asking for consumer ideas for the product's name and potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder declared from his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that was done there.”

The watermelon has become a symbol for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which match the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Social Engagement and Recent Developments

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's ceased sales of its products in territories under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever transferring their Israel business to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales in the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming product line is being developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which originally created in 2016 to support former US presidential candidate Senator Sanders with the product "Bernie's Back".

Leadership Changes and Upcoming Intentions

Mr. Cohen stated that he plans to develop additional ice cream flavors that address concerns which Ben & Jerry's was silenced from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned from the company in September, after many years of involvement, citing concerns regarding how its independence had been undermined following Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen commented that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy so that the company can fulfill its ethical purpose, the values that established its foundation and has maintained for decades," he told media outlets.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Personal product development by original creators
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Continuing tensions among parent company and ethical values