UN Adds 61 Companies to Settlement‑Linked Firms List
The United Nations Human Rights Office broadened its registry of companies involved in activities supporting illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by adding 61 new firms, bringing the total to 214. The update, released in an 18‑page report, outlines the criteria for inclus…
By Felo News Desk · Published
The United Nations Human Rights Office has expanded its database of companies that facilitate the construction and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. 61 new firms were added to the list, raising the total number of businesses on record to 214 and covering 11 countries.
What the UN Report Says
The 18‑page report, released on Friday, explains the methodology behind the inclusion of each company. A firm is added to the database if it is found to be engaged in at least one of ten prohibited activities. These activities include:
- Facilitating the building or expansion of settlements
- Supplying surveillance or identification equipment
- Providing banking or financial services that support settlement projects
- Offering utilities or other services that enable settlement operations
The report stresses that a company must either cause, contribute to, or have a direct link to adverse human‑rights impacts in the occupied territories. The standard of proof is that there are reasonable grounds to believe the company is engaged in a prohibited activity, a threshold that is lower than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard required in criminal courts.
Who Is Now on the List?
Most of the new additions are Israeli firms, but the list also includes companies from China, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Notable names added in this round include Spanish logistics company Salvat Logistica and Israeli real‑estate investment holder Alony Hetz. These firms join already‑listed companies such as travel agencies Expedia and TripAdvisor, home‑rental platform Airbnb, and telecommunications giant Motorola.
Five of the 158 companies that were on the list last year were removed in the latest update, reflecting the dynamic nature of the database and the UN’s ongoing review process.
How the UN Engages Companies
After a company is identified as potentially involved in a prohibited activity, the UN reaches out to provide the firm with an opportunity to respond. Companies are given 60 days to submit additional information, clarification, or updates. In the most recent assessment, the UN received responses from 14 of the 126 companies reviewed, although it is unclear how many of the total were contacted.
Context: International Law and the Settlement Question
Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are deemed illegal under international law, a position reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in July 2024. The ICJ’s advisory opinion declared that Israel must halt all new settlement activity and withdraw from occupied Palestinian territory. While the ruling is not legally binding, it carries significant political weight and underscores the global scrutiny of settlement expansion.
The UN’s database is part of a broader effort to hold corporations accountable for their role in supporting activities that violate international law. By publicly naming firms, the UN seeks to pressure companies to reassess their operations and to encourage governments to enforce stricter oversight.
What Happens Next?
As the database grows, the UN will continue to monitor corporate activities and update the list accordingly. Companies that remain on the list may face increased scrutiny from investors, consumers, and governments. The UN has not yet announced any specific enforcement actions, but the inclusion of a firm can lead to reputational damage and potential legal challenges in jurisdictions that recognize the illegality of settlements.
Stakeholders—including Palestinian civil society, human‑rights advocates, and international businesses—are watching the UN’s work closely, as it may influence corporate strategies and international trade policies related to the occupied territories.
For now, the expanded list serves as a warning sign: corporations worldwide must be vigilant about the legal and ethical implications of their operations in contested regions.
Key facts
- UN added 61 new firms, raising total to 214 across 11 countries
- Criteria include participation in settlement construction, surveillance, banking, and utilities
- Most new firms are Israeli; others hail from China, France, Germany, etc.
- Companies receive 60‑day response window; 14 responded in latest review
- ICJ ruled settlements illegal in 2024, reinforcing UN’s stance
- The database aims to pressure firms to change practices and avoid legal fallout
Why it matters
By cataloguing companies that support illegal settlements, the UN is shining a spotlight on corporate complicity in human‑rights violations, potentially influencing global business practices and encouraging stricter compliance with international law.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean for a company to be on the UN list?
Being on the list signals that the UN has reasonable grounds to believe the company is involved in activities that support illegal settlements, which can lead to reputational damage and potential legal scrutiny.
How does the UN decide which companies to add?
The UN examines evidence that a company engages in at least one of ten prohibited activities, such as facilitating settlement construction or providing related services, and that it contributes to adverse human‑rights impacts.
Can companies remove themselves from the list?
Companies can respond to the UN’s outreach and provide clarifications or evidence of compliance, but removal requires the UN to reassess and confirm that the firm no longer meets inclusion criteria.
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “UN expands list of firms involved in illegal Israeli settlement activities”
