UN expands list of companies linked to Israeli settlements in the West Bank

The United Nations human rights office has expanded its list of companies associated with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, adding 61 more entities to the database. The UN considers the settlements illegal, and the list is sensitive as firms could face boycotts or divestment campaigns targeting them. The database, first released in 2020, now contains 214 firms, primarily from Israel but also from 10 other nations, including France, Germany, China, and the United States.

Among the newly added companies are Israeli pesticide manufacturer ADAMA, part of the Chinese-owned Syngenta Group, real estate investment holding company Alony Hetz from Israel, and Spain-based Salvat Logistica. Pre-existing companies on the list include travel agency Expedia and home-rental service Airbnb. Israeli officials have dismissed the list as unfairly targeting companies operating legally, calling it a distorted mechanism created by a flawed body with an automatic majority against Israel.

This comes amid a rise in settler attacks against Palestinians as more outposts are established, leading countries such as Britain, France, and Canada to halt imports from the settlements. The UN rights office evaluated companies in various sectors, including energy, food, hospitality, transport, and agriculture, based on confidential submissions.

However, 60 companies did not meet the UN criteria for involvement in activities that violate Palestinian self-determination rights, such as providing demolition equipment or surveillance services for settlements. Some companies, like British-registered Opodo and Spanish-domiciled eDreams, were removed from the original list after submitting reassessment requests, as they were found not to be involved in the activities that justified their initial inclusion.

Palestinians seek the West Bank as part of a future independent state, while Israel's nationalist government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has largely supported the settlers, with construction activities intensified since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent Gaza war. Expedia previously stated that the listings in disputed areas were clearly marked, complied with international laws and sanctions, and underwent enhanced due diligence guided by UN standards.