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One of the co-founders behind the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has stated how corporate owner Unilever prevented the launch for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

Ben Cohen, who co-founded the business with his partner, announced that he will personally create the controversial product as part of a personal collection highlighting causes Ben & Jerry's was barred from addressing publicly.

Ongoing Conflict Involving Creators versus Parent Company

The recent development intensifies the continuing conflict between the world-famous dessert company and its corporate parent, the British consumer goods corporation that has owned Ben & Jerry's since 2000.

Both founders have asserted that Unilever and its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "fulfilling its ethical commitments".

Watermelon Sorbet becoming a Symbol of Solidarity

The entrepreneur announced through social media that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, requesting public suggestions regarding the product's name plus additional components.

“I'm doing what they were prevented from doing,” Mr. Cohen declared in his kitchen. “I'm making a watermelon-based frozen dessert that advocates for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for addressing the harm that occurred in the region.”

The watermelon has become an emblem of solidarity with the Palestinian people because of its colors, that match the colors in Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Historical Activism and Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company refused to sell their merchandise in areas under Israeli control, resulting in the parent company selling the Israeli operation to a local licensee, thus allowing continued sales within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series will be developed under Ben's Best, the socially conscious ice cream brand which originally established several years back to support former political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Management Changes and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen stated that he will develop other frozen dessert varieties that address issues that Ben & Jerry's was prevented from addressing publicly due to Unilever.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned from the company in September, following decades of involvement, mentioning worries regarding how its independence was compromised after Unilever's decision to restrict their advocacy work.

Previously, Mr. Cohen remarked that “My partner has strong compassion and the ongoing dispute with Unilever was deeply distressing him."

“My conscience compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for its independence ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the values that it was founded on while upholding for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner restrictions on political advocacy
• Independent product development from company founders
• Watermelon flavor as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions among corporate ownership versus ethical values