UN Blacklists Israeli Companies Operating in Settlements

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 added to the list include Tnuva, Netafim, Africa Israel, Alony Hetz, and Energix, alongside well-known brands like Aroma Espresso Bar, Burger Ranch, and Cafe Joe. International giants such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor, and Motorola remain on the list.

The UN stated that inclusion in the database does not constitute legal sanctions but could impact companies' business operations and international relations. Israel's Foreign Ministry vehemently condemned the move, labeling it a "corrupt political mechanism" originating from the Human Rights Council, which it described as inherently flawed with an automatic anti-Israel majority fueled by undisclosed funding. The Ministry asserted that the "black list" exists solely to harm Israel and is not a legitimate human rights mechanism.

In a direct attack, the Ministry accused the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, of becoming a "commissioner of boycotts against Israel," alleging he has fostered wasteful mechanisms aimed at persecuting the state. The Ministry highlighted that Israeli businesses in the West Bank provide employment for Palestinians, foster inter-community bridges, and serve as examples of coexistence, contrasting this with the High Commissioner's office. The Foreign Ministry affirmed its ongoing efforts on multiple fronts against what it termed the UN's blatant anti-Israel policies, including this black list.

The UN's black list is published annually by the Human Rights Council to identify companies operating in territories the UN defines as occupied, based on criteria related to business activities in these areas.