7 hrs ago
UN Expands List of Companies Linked to Israeli Settlements
The United Nations keeps a list of companies connected to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The UN considers those settlements illegal.
It added 61 companies, bringing the list to 214 firms.
The companies work in areas such as farming, travel, food, transport and energy.
Israel says the list is unfair and treats Israel differently.
Some companies could face boycotts or pressure from investors because of their inclusion.
The UN says it looks for activities that help settlements operate or harm Palestinians’ right to choose their own future.
Two online travel companies were removed after saying they had stopped certain activities.
The disagreement is part of the larger conflict over the West Bank and Israeli settlement expansion.
The United Nations added 61 companies operating in Israeli West Bank settlements to its database.
The database now contains 214 firms, mainly from Israel and also from 10 other countries.
New additions include ADAMA, Alony Hetz and Spain’s Salvat Logistica.
Israel rejected the database as a biased mechanism that unfairly vilifies companies working legally.
Opodo and eDreams were removed after reassessments found reasonable grounds that they were no longer involved in qualifying activities.
- Who
- The United Nations human rights office, Israeli officials, and companies operating in or connected to West Bank settlements.
- What
- The UN added 61 companies to its database of firms linked to Israeli settlements and removed two companies after reassessment.
- Where
- The companies operate in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
- When
- The update was issued on Friday, September 25; the database was first released in 2020.
- Why
- The UN said the companies met criteria involving activities that support settlements or violate Palestinians’ right to self-determination; Israel said the database unfairly targets the country.
United Nations and Palestinian Position
Israel and Company Responses
Status of settlements
United Nations and Palestinian Position
The UN considers Israeli West Bank settlements illegal and says certain company activities violate Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
Israel and Company Responses
Israel views the West Bank as disputed rather than occupied and says companies on the list are working legally.
Purpose of the database
United Nations and Palestinian Position
The UN says the database identifies companies involved in activities such as supplying demolition equipment, providing settlement surveillance or maintaining settlement infrastructure.
Israel and Company Responses
Israel’s diplomatic mission called the database a distorted mechanism created by a body with an automatic majority against Israel, alleging it was designed to persecute the country.
Company involvement and pressure
United Nations and Palestinian Position
The database could expose firms to boycotts or divestment intended to pressure Israel over settlement expansion.
Israel and Company Responses
Expedia said its listings in what it called disputed areas were clearly labeled and complied with international laws and sanctions; eDreams said it had withdrawn from settlement listings.
Key facts
- Database size
- 214 companies after the latest additions
- New additions
- 61 companies
- Countries represented
- Israel and 10 other countries
- Newly listed firms
- ADAMA, Alony Hetz and Salvat Logistica
- Previously listed firms
- Expedia and Airbnb
- Removed firms
- Opodo and eDreams
- Assessed sectors
- Energy, food, hospitality, transport and agriculture
Quotes
Israel’s diplomatic mission
The diplomatic mission representing Israel, which criticized the UN database
“This is a distorted mechanism — created by a deeply flawed body with an automatic majority against Israel”
theprint.in
Sources
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