United Nations Report Identifies 112 Businesses in Israeli Settlements of ‘Occupied Palestinian Territory’ as Illegal

A United Nations report investigating the “implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” has identified 112 business entities “as illegal under international law”.

Among the 112 businesses are Airbnb, Booking.com., Expedia, General Mills, Motorola, and TripAdvisor.

Current United Nations rulings declare “that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace”. In correspondence with this declaration, the United Nations report flagged both “business enterprises that are physically located on land in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to those that benefit commercially from the use of natural resources located in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, irrespective of such business enterprises’ physical presence” as illegal.

While the settlements “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.” Any further legal decisions will first be discussed by the Member States of the Human Rights Council.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo responded he is “outraged” by this list and the “United States has not provided, and will never… support compilation of these lists and expresses support for U.S. companies referenced.”