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The co-founders behind the famous frozen dessert company Ben and Jerry's has announced that parent company Unilever prevented the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that established the company alongside Jerry Greenfield, announced that he plans to personally create the controversial product as part of a personal series highlighting issues Ben & Jerry's was barred from speaking out about.

Ongoing Dispute Between Creators versus Corporate Owner

The recent announcement deepens the ongoing tension among the world-famous ice cream maker and its corporate parent, the British consumer goods giant that acquired Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders maintain that the parent company and their ice cream division the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked Ben & Jerry's from "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as an Emblem for Solidarity

Mr. Cohen stated through social media that he is creating a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting consumer ideas regarding naming options and additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” the founder declared in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding addressing the harm that was done there.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that match those of the Palestinian flag – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Current Changes

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, leading to the parent company transferring their Israel business to an Israeli distributor, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

The new product line will be developed under Ben's Best, the activist dessert company which originally created in 2016 for endorsing ex- US presidential candidate Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Intentions

The founder stated that he will create other ice cream flavors that address issues which the company was prevented from speaking about openly by Unilever.

This development follows co-founder Jerry Greenfield stepped down his position at the company recently, after many years of involvement, mentioning concerns regarding how its independence was undermined following corporate moves to restrict its social activism.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that "Jerry has strong compassion and this conflict with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart leads me to continue to work inside the company to fight for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can achieve its ethical purpose, the values that it was founded on while upholding for decades," he told media outlets.

• Corporate owner limitations regarding social activism
• Personal flavor creation from original creators
• Watermelon flavor serving as social statement
• Ongoing disagreements among parent company and social mission