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

The UN human rights office added 61 companies to its database of businesses tied to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, bringing the total to 214. Israeli officials criticized the move, calling it a distorted mechanism by a flawed body. The list includes firms from Israel and 10 other countries.

The UN human rights office published an updated list on Friday, adding 61 companies to its database of businesses operating in Israeli West Bank settlements, which the UN considers illegal. The database, first released in 2020, now includes 214 firms from Israel and 10 other countries, including France, Germany, China, and the US. Newly added companies include Israeli pesticides maker ADAMA, real estate firm Alony Hetz, and Spain's Salvat Logistica. They join previously listed firms such as Expedia and Airbnb. Israeli officials condemned the move, with the diplomatic mission stating the list is a "distorted mechanism" created by a body with an "automatic majority against Israel" to "persecute" the Jewish state. The UN assessed companies in sectors including energy, food, hospitality, transport, and agriculture. Some companies, including Opodo and eDreams, were removed after reassessment. The report notes a surge in settler attacks and recent import restrictions by Britain, France, and Canada.