The UN Human Rights Council calls on states and companies to terminate business with the illegal Israeli settlements

On 28 March, the Human Rights Council in Geneva (HRC) passed four resolutions submitted under Item 7 condemning Israeli policy towards the Palestinians and urging all states to provide companies with information about the risks associated with involvement in illegal Israeli settlements

The resolutions referenced international law, which increased the chances that both Israel and private businesses operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territory would be held accountable.

Forty-six states, including all nine EU member states (Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Romania, and the UK), supported the four resolutions; only the United States voted against.

The resolution “Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan” urges all states:

• To ensure that they are not taking actions that assist the expansion of settlements or construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; and

• To provide information to individuals and businesses on the financial, reputational and legal risks, as well as the possible abuses of the rights of individuals, of getting involved in settlement-related activities, including economic and financial activities, the provision of services in settlements and the purchasing of property.

Resolution: Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories

Resolution: Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination

Resolution: Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan