UN Releases List of Firms Linked to «Israeli» Settlements

By Staff, Agencies

In a move hailed by Palestinians as a victory for international law, the United Nations human rights office released a report identifying companies with business ties to “Israeli” settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The international office said in a statement on Wednesday that it had named 112 business entities, including 94 based in the apartheid Zionist entity and 18 others in six different countries. It said it had reasonable grounds to conclude that the firms have ties with “Israeli” settlements.

"I am conscious this issue has been, and will continue to be, highly contentious," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday.

The office said, "While the settlements as such are regarded as illegal under international law, this report does not provide a legal characterization of the activities in question, or of business enterprises’ involvement in them."

The move was hailed by the Palestinian foreign minister, who described it as a victory.

"The publication of the list of companies and parties operating in settlements is a victory for international law," Riyad al-Maliki's office said in a statement.

The minister also called on UN member states and the UN Human Rights council to "issue recommendations and instructions to these companies to end their work immediately with the settlements."

For his part, “Israel’s” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement, “The announcement by the UN Human Rights Office of the publication of a 'blacklist' of businesses is shameful capitulation to pressure from countries and organizations that are interested in hurting “Israel”.”