UN Blacklists Dozens of Israeli Companies Over West Bank Settlement Ties

The United Nations Human Rights Office has added 61 companies, the vast majority of them Israeli, to a "black list" of businesses allegedly involved in human rights violations against Palestinians through business ties with illegal settlements in the West Bank. The list, updated on Saturday, now includes 214 businesses in total, with 61 new additions and five removed for no longer being involved in such activities.

Among the newly listed Israeli companies are major corporations such as Tnuva, Burgeranch, Africa Israel, Jerusalem water company Gihon, and Teperberg Winery. The UN database identifies businesses engaged in specific prohibited activities related to settlement activity in the West Bank.

The black list, first published in 2020 following a vote at the UN Human Rights Council, aims to "expose and shame" businesses connected to illegal settlements. The council's resolutions are not legally binding on companies.

Israel has vehemently rejected the report, with its diplomatic mission in Geneva stating, "This database is intended to serve as a blacklist against businesses that have not committed any wrongdoing." The mission urged allies not to yield to what it called an "ugly attempt" to blacklist Israeli firms.

The UN report calls on businesses to fulfill their responsibility to respect human rights according to accepted international standards, urging them to take appropriate steps to address negative human rights impacts when involved in listed activities.