In recent weeks, some 130 Israeli companies and another 60 international corporations have received letters from the current UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jordan’s Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, warning them that they are being “blacklisted” for “acting contrary to international law and UN decisions."
According to Yediot Aharonot, the list in question includes well-known Israeli companies spanning different sectors, from food to services, pharmaceuticals to hi-tech. All of them, however, have one thing in common: They operate in Judea and Samaria, eastern Jerusalem, or the Jordan Valley.
It has been conclusively proven that Israeli presence in these areas is not in contravention of international law and is not defined as "occupation" according to international agreements.
Yediot Aharonot reported that the companies are currently considering taking legal action against the High Commissioner, claiming that the blacklist is politically motivated, and pointing to other “conflict areas” around the world which did not merit a similar blacklist.
According to the report, the Foreign Ministry believes that the High Commissioner received information on the companies from anti-Zionist NGOs operating in Israel that monitor business activity over the Green Line.
The report noted that, while the blacklist has no immediate operational or legal consequences, it can have the long-term effect of deterring investment in the companies in question, providing fuel for the BDS movement and damaging the State of Israel economically.