GENEVA : The United Nations human rights office said on Wednesday it had identified 206 companies so far doing business linked to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, where it said violations against Palestinians are “pervasive and devastating.”
The report is politically sensitive because companies in the UN database could be targeted for boycotts or divestment aimed at stepping up pressure on Israel over its settlements, which most countries and the world body view as illegal.
“The majority of these companies are domiciled in Israel or the settlements (143), with the second largest group located in the United States (22). The remainder are domiciled in 19 other countries,” the UN human rights office said in a statement.
The report, which did not name the companies but said that 64 of them had been contacted to date, said that the work in producing the database “does not purport to constitute a judicial process of any kind.”
Its mandate was to identify businesses involved in the construction of settlements, surveillance, services including transport, and banking and financial operations such as loans for housing that may raise human rights concerns.
Human rights violations associated with the settlements are “pervasive and devastating, reaching every facet of Palestinian life,” the report said. It cited restrictions on freedom of religion, movement and education as well as lack of access to land, water and livelihoods.
Israel assailed the Human Rights Council in March 2016 for launching the initiative at the request of countries led by Pakistan, calling the database a “blacklist” and accusing the 47-member state forum of behaving “obsessively” against Israel.
Israel’s mission in Geneva said on Wednesday that it was preparing a statement responding to the UN report.
“We hope that our work in consolidating and communicating the information in the database will assist States and businesses in complying with their obligations and responsibilities under international law,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein.
Zeid’s office deferred the report last February saying it needed more time to establish the database. It is to be debated at the main annual session of the UN Human Rights Council, being held in Geneva from Feb 26-March 23.
More than 200 companies have Israeli settlement ties — UN
More than 200 companies have Israeli settlement ties — UN
Hallelujah! This Christmas, join us as we wish for peace across the region
RIYADH: In continuing with a tradition that began in December 2022, Arab News extends a heartfelt Merry Christmas to our Christian readers and all who celebrate. This year’s special edition spotlights Christmas across the Middle East, emphasizing interfaith harmony, resilience and cultural integration. All wrapped with a special, and sincere, message of hope that we see peace spreading across the region in 2026.
Leading our coverage is an exclusive column from renowned scholar Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and president of the Organization of Muslim Scholars. His message clarifies a vital principle: “There is no Shariah text that prohibits congratulating non-Muslims on their religious holidays, including Christmas.” He frames this goodwill not as a dilution of faith, but as its strength; one that affirms human dignity and fosters the social harmony desperately needed today.
This theme of solidarity amid suffering is echoed from Bethlehem, where Palestinian pastor Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac explains that Palestinian Christianity is inseparable from national identity. In response to Gaza’s devastation, his congregation erected a nativity scene from rubble, the infant Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh. “It was a message of faith,” he states. “Christ stands in solidarity with the suffering ... because he was born into suffering.”
From this depth emerges stories of renewal. In Damascus, festive lights return as Syrians of all faiths embrace a fragile peace. In Lebanon, celebrations pierce through political gloom with moments of joy. Jordan’s public spaces glow with trees and Fairouz’s Christmas hymns, while the UAE’s multicultural diaspora erupts in bustling, festive unity.
The historical and intellectual depth of the region’s Christian heritage is underscored by Dr. Abdellatif El-Menawy, who notes Egypt’s indispensable role in shaping Christianity from a spiritual message into a civilization. This legacy of deep-rooted faith finds vibrant, modern expression.
Here in Saudi Arabia, the festive season is acknowledged with innovative hospitality, as chefs reimagine Christmas menus through a lens of local flavors and creative culinary identity.
This special edition paints a picture far richer than simple seasonal cheer. It reveals a Middle East where different faiths deepen their own roots by extending respect to others, where celebrations are woven with threads of historical endurance, and where the message of Christmas — one of hope, peace and shared humanity — resonates with cheer and confidence.
