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The co-founders of the famous ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has claimed that corporate owner Unilever blocked the introduction for an innovative Palestine-themed ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, that co-founded the business with Jerry Greenfield, revealed that he will personally create this new product as part of a personal collection highlighting issues the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders and Parent Company

The recent development escalates the ongoing tension among the internationally recognized dessert company with its corporate parent, the British packaged goods giant that acquired the ice cream brand since 2000.

The co-founders have asserted that Unilever and its ice cream arm the Magnum brand unlawfully blocked their company against "maintaining its activist principles".

The Fruit Sorbet becoming an Emblem for Support

Mr. Cohen revealed through an Instagram video that he is creating an innovative watermelon-flavored sorbet, asking for consumer ideas regarding the product's name and additional components.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” the founder commented in his kitchen. “I'm creating a watermelon-based ice cream that calls for lasting ceasefire for Palestinians and calls for repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has become an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its coloration, which mirror the colors in Palestine's national banner – the distinctive four-color pattern.

Previous Activism and Recent Changes

Several years ago, Ben & Jerry's refused to sell its products in areas occupied by Israel, resulting in Unilever selling the Israeli operation to an Israeli distributor, thus allowing ongoing distribution within the occupied West Bank.

This upcoming dessert series is being created through Ben's Best, the activist dessert company that originally created several years back to support ex- political contender Bernie Sanders with the flavor "Bernie's Back".

Management Shifts and Upcoming Plans

Mr. Cohen revealed how he will create additional frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues that the company was prevented from addressing publicly due to corporate restrictions.

This development comes after co-founder Mr. Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following decades of involvement, mentioning worries that its independence was compromised after Unilever's decision to curb its social activism.

At that time, Ben Cohen stated that “My partner has a really big heart and the ongoing dispute with our parent company was breaking it."

"My heart compels me to continue to work within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can actualise the social mission, the principles that it was founded on and has maintained for over 40 years," he explained to journalists.

• Corporate owner limitations on political advocacy
• Personal product development from company founders
• The fruit-based product serving as social statement
• Continuing tensions between parent company versus ethical values