UN Human Rights Office Adds 61 Companies to Settlements Database

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has added 61 companies to its database of businesses involved in activities related to Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The list, initially established in 2020, now includes a total of 214 companies. The majority of the listed firms are Israeli, but the database also features companies from ten other countries, including France, Germany, China, and the United States. Among the newly added entities are Israeli agrochemical manufacturer ADAMA, controlled by China's Syngenta Group, Israeli real estate firm Alony Hetz, and Spanish logistics company Salvat Logistica.

The High Commissioner's office stated that it reviewed companies operating in sectors such as energy, agriculture, food, transportation, and hospitality. Approximately sixty other companies were examined but ultimately excluded, as the UN determined they did not meet the criteria for inclusion. Israel has condemned the latest update, labeling the database a biased mechanism targeting the country.

This database is considered significant due to its potential use by organizations and investors seeking to exert economic pressure on the listed companies. However, the list is subject to revision. For instance, online travel agencies Opodo and eDreams were previously removed after their situations were re-evaluated and the UN found reasonable grounds to believe they were no longer engaged in the activities that led to their initial inclusion.