UN Blacklists Israeli Companies, Foreign Ministry Denounces 'Corrupt Political Mechanism'

The United Nations has updated its database of companies involved in business activities in Israeli settlements, adding 61 new entities to the list. The updated roster now includes 214 companies from 11 countries, an increase from 158 last year, though five companies were removed. Prominent Israeli firms such as Tnuva, Netafim, Africa Israel, and Alony Hetz were added, alongside well-known brands like Aroma Espresso Bar, Burger Ranch, and Cafe Joe. International giants including Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor, and Motorola remain on the list.

While inclusion in the database does not carry legal sanctions, it could impact the companies' business operations and international relations. Israel's Foreign Ministry vehemently rejected the UN's move, labeling it a "corrupt political mechanism" originating from the "fundamentally flawed" Human Rights Council, which it claims has an automatic anti-Israel majority based on "reports" funded by unidentified sources.

The ministry asserted that the "blacklist" was created solely to harm Israel and has no parallel elsewhere, stating, "We reject the 'blacklist' outright and all the assumptions underlying it; this is not a legitimate or worthy mechanism in the field of human rights." The ministry directly criticized High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, accusing him of becoming a "commissioner of boycotts against Israel" and overseeing "wasteful mechanisms" aimed at persecuting the State of Israel.

Israel's Foreign Ministry highlighted its strong and stable economy, emphasizing that Israeli business activities in the West Bank provide jobs for Palestinians and serve as a bridge between communities, demonstrating coexistence. The ministry affirmed its ongoing efforts on multiple fronts against what it termed the UN's "blatant anti-Israel policy," including opposition to the blacklist. The UN Human Rights Council publishes the blacklist annually to identify companies operating in territories it defines as occupied, based on criteria related to business activities in these areas.