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One of the co-founders of the well-known frozen dessert company Ben & Jerry's has stated that corporate owner Unilever blocked the launch of an innovative pro-Palestinian ice cream flavor.

The entrepreneur, who established the business with Jerry Greenfield, announced that he will personally create this new flavor as part of a personal collection showcasing issues the company has been barred from addressing publicly.

Longstanding Dispute Between Founders versus Corporate Owner

The recent development deepens the continuing disagreement between the internationally recognized dessert company with Unilever, the UK-based consumer goods corporation that acquired Ben & Jerry's for over two decades.

Both founders have asserted that the parent company along with its ice cream arm Magnum improperly prevented Ben & Jerry's against "honouring its social mission".

Watermelon Flavor as a Symbol for Solidarity

The entrepreneur stated through social media that he's developing a new watermelon-flavored frozen dessert, asking for public suggestions for the product's name plus potential ingredients.

“I'm doing what they couldn't,” Mr. Cohen stated in a cooking set. “I'm making a watermelon-flavored frozen dessert that calls for permanent peace for Palestinians while demanding repairing the damage that occurred in the region.”

This particular fruit has emerged as an emblem for solidarity with the Palestinian people due to its colors, which mirror those of Palestine's national banner – red, green, black and white.

Previous Social Engagement and Current Developments

Several years ago, the ice cream company ceased sales of its products in areas under Israeli control, resulting in Unilever selling their Israel business over to a local licensee, thereby permitting ongoing distribution in disputed territories.

This upcoming dessert series will be created through Ben's Best, the activist ice cream brand that was first established several years back for endorsing former political contender Senator Sanders via the flavor "Bernie's Return".

Leadership Changes plus Upcoming Plans

The founder stated that he plans to create other frozen dessert varieties focusing on issues which the company was prevented from speaking about openly due to corporate restrictions.

This development comes after partner Jerry Greenfield resigned his position at the company recently, following decades with the organization, citing concerns regarding how the company's autonomy had been compromised following corporate moves to restrict their advocacy work.

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

"My heart compels me to keep working within the organization to advocate for corporate autonomy ensuring that it can fulfill its ethical purpose, the principles that established its foundation while upholding for over 40 years," he told journalists.

• Parent company restrictions on political advocacy
• Independent flavor creation by original creators
• The fruit-based product serving as political symbol
• Ongoing tensions between parent company and ethical values