Palestinians on Wednesday applauded the release of a United Nations list of 112 companies that do business in Israeli settlements as a “victory for international law”.
“Publishing this list of companies and entities operating in the settlements is a victory for international law and diplomatic efforts,” foreign minister Riyad al-Malki said in a statement.
Israel on Wednesday rejected as “shameful” a UN list of 112 companies that do business in settlements, while the Palestinians cheered its long-delayed release as a “victory for international law”.
The list published by the United Nations’ human rights office includes a range of large international firms, including Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Motorola Solutions.
“It is a shameful surrender to pressure from countries and organisations who want to harm Israel,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Malki on the other hand, applauded the publication as a “victory for international law and diplomatic efforts.”
About 450,000 people live in Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, which are considered illegal under international law.
Israeli officials have voiced concern that the UN list would be used to justify a large-scale boycott of the country’s private sector.
They have also more broadly questioned the legitimacy of the Human Rights Council.
Israel is the only country with a dedicated agenda item at the Council, meaning the Jewish state’s conduct is automatically discussed at each session.
The United States, which no longer considers settlements illegal, has withdrawn from the council, in part over its treatment of Israel.
