The United Nations human rights office updated its list to include 61 more companies operating in Israeli West Bank settlements, bringing the total to 214 firms from Israel and ten other countries. The database targets businesses involved in sectors such as energy, food, hospitality, transport, and agriculture, aiming to pressure Israel over settler expansion in Palestinian territory. Israel criticized the list, arguing that it unfairly vilifies companies working legally within disputed areas.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The United Nations human rights office released an updated list on Friday, adding 61 more companies to its database of businesses operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. This brings the total number of firms listed to 214, with new additions including Israeli pesticide maker ADAMA (part of Chinese-owned Syngenta Group) and Spain's Salvat Logistica, alongside previously included companies like travel agency Expedia and home-rental company Airbnb. The database aims to pressure Israel over its settler expansion in territory that is home to over 3 million Palestinians, though the Israeli mission to the UN dismissed it as a "political tool" meant to persecute the Jewish state.
Written for “UN Expands Settlements Blacklist” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
UN expands list of companies linked to Israeli settlements
GENEVA, Sept 25 -
asserted
UN → expand → settlements
The United Nations human rights office issued a list on Friday adding 61 more companies operating in Israeli West Bank settlements, which the global body considers illegal.
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body → issue → settlements
The database is highly sensitive as firms could be targeted for boycotts or divestment to pressure Israel over settler expansion in the territory that is home to over 3 million Palestinians.
uncertain
that → target → Palestinians
The database, first released in 2020, now includes 214 firms, mostly from Israel, but also from 10 other countries including France, Germany, China and the US.
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database → release → France
Newly added firms included Israeli pesticides maker ADAMA, part of Chinese-owned Syngenta Group, Israel-based real estate investment holding company Alony Hetz and Spain's Salvat Logistica.
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firms → add → Group
They joined companies such as travel agency Expedia and home-rental company Airbnb already on the list.
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They → join → list
Israel, which views the West Bank as disputed rather than occupied, has previously said the list unfairly vilifies companies working legally.
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list → view → companies
"This is a distorted mechanism — created by a deeply flawed body with an automatic majority against Israel," Israel's diplomatic mission said on Friday, alleging that the database was establish to "persecute" the Jewish state.
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database → create → state
There has been a surge in settler attacks against Palestinians as outposts proliferate, prompting Britain, France and Canada to block imports from settlements this month.
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outposts → proliferate → settlements
The UN rights office assessed companies active in a group of sectors including energy, food, hospitality, transport and agriculture, based on confidential submissions to the UN rights office.
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office → assess → office
Another 60 or so companies were assessed but not included since they did not meet the UN criteria of involvement in activities that violate the Palestinian right to self-determination.
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that → assess → determination
Examples include supplying demolition equipment to destroy Palestinian buildings, provision of surveillance for settlements and other services like transport that help maintain their existence, according to the UN website.
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that → include → website
Other companies, like British-registered online travel company Opodo and Spanish-domiciled online travel agent eDreams, have been dropped from the original list after submitting a reassessment request.
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companies → register → request
The UN found that there were reasonable grounds to believe they were no longer involved in the activities that previously justified their inclusion.
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that → find → inclusion
eDreams said last year it had withdrawn and would continue to block listings of accommodation in illegal Israeli settlements, saying that some had appeared on its website automatically after owners uploaded them.
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owners → say → them
Palestinians want the West Bank to be part of a future independent homeland.
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Bank → want → homeland
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist government has largely backed settlers, with building ramped up since the militant Hamas group's attack on Israel in October 2023 and the ensuing Gaza war.
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building → back → October
Travel firm Expedia has previously said that the listings in what it called "disputed areas" were clearly labelled, complied with international laws and sanctions and undergo enhanced due diligence guided by UN standards.
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it → say → standards
The Aporia
