UN Settlement Database Expansion
UN Human Rights Office Adds 61 Companies to West Bank Settlement Database
Anonymous
Key Points
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Although the database is supposed to be updated annually, it had been revised only twice before this update— in 2023 and 2025. The latest review covered submissions received by June 2024, and the U.N. says the list is not exhaustive.
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About 750,000 Israeli settlers live in 156 settlements and 360 settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to the article.
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The five companies removed from the database included two Spanish firms and one each from Canada, Israel and Portugal. Article 3 says online travel companies Opodo and eDreams were among those removed; eDreams said it had taken listings in illegal settlements off its platform.
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The U.N. review relied on confidential submissions and assessed companies across sectors including energy, food, hospitality, transport and agriculture. Around 60 additional companies were reviewed but excluded because they did not meet the criteria.
The United Nations human rights office expanded its watchlist of companies tied to Israeli settlements, adding 61 firms and removing five to reach 214 businesses total Al Jazeera. The database tracks companies whose activities support settlements through construction, surveillance, demolitions, or services that keep settlements running. The firms span 11 countries, though UN officials say the list is not exhaustive.
The update marks only the third revision since the database launched in 2020 Courthouse News. New additions include pesticide maker ADAMA, real estate company Alony Hetz, and Spain's Salvat Logistica. The U.N. human rights chief said companies must do their homework to avoid involvement in human rights abuses, while Israel denounced the list as biased targeting of legal businesses.
The Database Covers Wide Range of Business Sectors
The U.N. review examined companies across energy, food, hospitality, transport, and agriculture. About 60 additional companies were reviewed but excluded because they didn't meet the criteria Press TV. The database assesses firms based on confidential submissions and public information about their ties to settlements.
Five Companies Removed After Changing Operations
Two Spanish firms, plus one each from Canada, Israel, and Portugal, were dropped from the list Courthouse News. Online travel companies Opodo and eDreams were among those removed. eDreams said it had taken listings for illegal settlements off its platform, meeting the criteria for removal.
Scale of Israeli Settlement Activity in West Bank
About 750,000 Israeli settlers live across 156 settlements and 360 settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem 24 News HD. The population has grown substantially despite international criticism. These communities are considered illegal under international law by most nations and the U.N.
Western Nations Tighten Restrictions on Settlement Goods
Britain, France, and Canada have moved to block imports from settlements amid rising concerns about settler violence Al Jazeera. The moves signal growing pressure on companies doing business with settlements. These restrictions complement the U.N. database by creating economic consequences for firms operating in the territory.
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