UN Expands Blacklist; 70 Companies Added for Palestinian Rights Violations

Geneva, Sep 26 (AP) The United Nations has recently expanded its blacklist, adding approximately 70 more companies from 11 different countries. These companies are accused of being complicit in the violation of Palestinian human rights due to their business activities related to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The updated list highlights firms engaged in what is considered to be support for the settlements, which many international law experts regard as illegal. The companies involved span various sectors, including those supplying construction materials, earth-moving equipment, security, travel, and financial services.

The database, formally known as a “database of companies,” now comprises 158 businesses, with the majority being Israeli. Other included countries are the United States, Canada, China, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Among the newly added firms are German building-materials company Heidelberg Materials, Portuguese rail systems provider Steconfer, and Spanish transportation engineering firm Ineco. Notably, travel-related companies from the United States such as Expedia Group, Booking Holdings Inc., and Airbnb, Inc. remain on the list.

Despite the addition of 68 new companies, seven have been removed. During this assessment round, a total of 215 business enterprises were evaluated, and many more may be examined in the future.

More than a decade ago, the UN’s main human rights body passed a resolution to establish this list. Israel has consistently criticized its creation and continued existence. The latest revision could potentially increase Israel's isolation, especially at a time when some of its allies in Europe have recognized a Palestinian state, partly in response to Israel's actions in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza. (AP) SKS SKS

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