UN Expands Blacklist of Companies Operating in Israeli Settlements

UN Expands Blacklist of Companies Operating in Israeli Settlements

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | September 28, 2026

GENEVA, Switzerland – The United Nations human rights office has significantly expanded its highly contentious database of companies with ties to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, adding 61 new firms and bringing the total to over 200. This move intensifies international scrutiny on businesses operating in territories that the UN considers illegal under international law.

The updated database, initially released in 2020, now includes companies predominantly from Israel but also features firms from ten other nations, including economic powerhouses like France, Germany, China, and the United States. New additions encompass diverse sectors such as energy, food, transport, and agriculture. Among those newly listed are Israeli pesticides manufacturer ADAMA (a subsidiary of the Chinese-owned Syngenta Group), Israeli real estate investment holding company Alony Hetz, and Spain’s Salvat Logistica. These companies have not yet publicly commented on their inclusion.

This UN initiative carries significant implications, as inclusion in the database can trigger boycotts or divestment campaigns aimed at pressuring Israel over its expansion of settlements, which house over three million Palestinians.

Israel vehemently rejects the database, asserting that the West Bank is “disputed territory” rather than occupied, and that the list unfairly maligns legally operating businesses. Israel’s diplomatic mission characterized the database as a “distorted mechanism” born from a “deeply flawed body with an automatic majority against Israel,” alleging its purpose is to “persecute” the Jewish state.

The expansion of the database comes amidst a surge in settler attacks against Palestinians as outposts proliferate. This escalating tension has led several nations, including Britain, France, and Canada, to implement restrictions on imports from settlements this month.

The UN rights office’s assessment of companies involved in various sectors was based on confidential submissions. While 60 additional companies were evaluated, they were not included as they did not meet the UN’s stringent criteria for involvement in activities that violate the Palestinian right to self-determination. These criteria include providing demolition equipment for Palestinian structures, offering surveillance services for settlements, or supplying transport and other services that contribute to their continued existence.

Conversely, some companies have successfully sought removal from the list. British-registered online travel company Opodo and Spanish-domiciled online travel agent eDreams, for instance, were removed after demonstrating they were no longer involved in the activities that initially warranted their inclusion. eDreams, last year, explicitly stated its withdrawal from and continued blocking of listings for accommodation in “illegal Israeli settlements,” clarifying that some had appeared automatically through owner uploads.

Palestinians envision the West Bank as an integral part of a future independent homeland. However, the current nationalist government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely supported settlers, accelerating construction particularly since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza conflict.

Previously, travel firm Expedia, which remains on the list alongside home-rental company Airbnb, stated that its listings in what it termed “disputed areas” were clearly labeled, complied with international laws and sanctions, and underwent enhanced due diligence guided by UN standards.

The UN’s expanded blacklist underscores the persistent international divergence over Israeli settlements and is poised to intensify debates surrounding corporate responsibility in conflict zones.