Over 150 companies, including four top online accommodation platforms, are active in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, deemed illegal by the UN’s highest court, as per a report from the human rights office released on Friday.
US companies Airbnb, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, along with Netherlands-based Booking.com, remain on the updated rights office list, which now includes 68 new names, totaling 158.
Notable new entries include German cement giant Heidelberg Materials AG, which has contested its inclusion, stating to Reuters it no longer operates in occupied Palestinian territories. Seven companies were removed from the list.
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All listed companies are involved in one or more of the 10 activities flagged by the rights office for human rights concerns. The mentioned platforms did not immediately respond to Reuters’ inquiries for comments.
Israel, citing biblical and historical connections to the West Bank, contests the 2024 UN court decision, claiming the territory isn’t legally occupied as it’s disputed land. Most international entities align with the UN’s stance.
UN Rights Office urges corrective measures
“Business enterprises that have caused or contributed to adverse human rights impacts should provide or engage in remediation through suitable processes,” the report stated.
Most firms in the database are based in Israel, but it also lists international companies from Canada, China, France, and other nations.
Company operations in Israeli settlements have faced increased scrutiny following Israel’s military actions in Gaza and intensified raids in the West Bank, which Israel claims target militants but have affected civilians.
The list, focused on business activities like construction, real estate, mining, and quarrying, isn’t exhaustive, as over 300 businesses await assessment.
“This report highlights the due diligence responsibility of businesses in conflict contexts to ensure their activities don’t contribute to human rights abuses,” stated UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk. The report also urged states to ensure businesses don’t partake in abuses.
Israel and the US have long criticized the “disproportionate attention” Israel receives from the Geneva-based Human Rights Council. The Israeli embassy in Geneva didn’t immediately respond to comments on the latest report.
Civil society groups assert the database, mandated by the council in 2016, is vital for transparency in West Bank business activities and encourages companies to reconsider their operations.
Israeli settlements have expanded in size and number since Israel seized the West Bank in the 1967 war. They extend deep into the area with a network of Israeli-controlled roads and infrastructure, further fragmenting the land.
A UN Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday revealed that since October 2023, Israeli policies have shown intent to forcibly transfer Palestinians, expand Jewish settlements, and annex the entire West Bank. Israel rejected the report, accusing the Commission of a political agenda.
US President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he would oppose Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, dismissing calls from some Israeli far-right politicians seeking to claim sovereignty over the area, undermining hopes for a Palestinian state.
