After Ben Cohen’s “Palestine” flavor stunt, the Israeli Embassy in Washington fired back with a proud, defiant flavor of its own — “Am Yisrael Chai,” symbolizing Jewish strength, unity, and resilience.
The Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., served a cold and witty comeback to Ben Cohen — co-founder of the politically outspoken ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s — after his latest attempt to use ice cream as a platform for anti-Israel activism.
Cohen announced earlier this week that he was independently developing a “Palestine”-themed sorbet, claiming his parent company, Unilever, had blocked him from launching it under the official Ben & Jerry’s label. The watermelon-flavored creation, he said, was meant to express “solidarity with Palestine” — invoking the red, green, black, and white colors of the PLO flag, a known symbol of anti-Israel movements.
But the Israeli Embassy wasn’t about to let that melt unchallenged. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the embassy posted a brilliant counter-offer:
“Hey Ben, challenge accepted. Our flavor: Am Yisrael Chai — tastes like strength, unity, and standing your ground. Not everyone can handle it.”
The bold message instantly went viral, with thousands of users applauding Israel’s sharp humor and pride in Jewish resilience. The phrase Am Yisrael Chai (“The Nation of Israel Lives”) is one of Israel’s most iconic declarations — a timeless symbol of Jewish survival and faith in the face of hatred.
Cohen’s latest move marks yet another chapter in his brand’s long-running feud with Unilever. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s triggered global outrage when it announced a boycott of sales in Judea and Samaria, sparking widespread condemnation and government backlash. Multiple U.S. states invoked anti-BDS laws, divesting from Unilever, while Australia’s kosher certification body revoked approval for Ben & Jerry’s products.
Unilever swiftly acted to protect its business in Israel, selling local franchise rights to Avi Zinger, CEO of American Quality Products (AQP) — ensuring that Israeli consumers could continue enjoying Ben & Jerry’s ice cream free from boycott politics. Despite repeated lawsuits by the Ben & Jerry’s board, Unilever’s decision stood firm.
Cohen’s personal campaign against Israel has since grown increasingly shrill — including false accusations of “genocide” during the ongoing Gaza conflict. His “Palestine” sorbet now appears to be another failed attempt to peddle political propaganda under the guise of dessert.
Israel’s answer, however, came not with anger but with confidence — one scoop of dignity, unity, and faith at a time. As the Embassy’s post proudly declared, not everyone can handle the taste of truth:
“Am Yisrael Chai — the flavor of an eternal nation.”
