The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday slammed a report by a United Nations human rights body for blacklisting U.S. companies that operate in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank.
In separate statements, Sen. Jim RischJames (Jim) Elroy RischSenators condemn UN ‘blacklisting’ of US companies in Israeli settlements Dairy industry doesn’t own the word ‘milk’ Overnight Defense: White House threatens to veto House Iran bills | Dems ‘frustrated’ after Iran briefing | Lawmakers warn US, UK intel sharing at risk after Huawei decision MORE (R-Idaho), the panel’s chairman, and Sen. Bob Menendez (N.J.), the committee’s top Democrat, criticized the report as politically motivated and encouraging the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel.
“It is unacceptable that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released this incredibly biased report which is in direct support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction movement against our close ally Israel,” Risch said in his statement.
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“Today’s release of the report is a political move made by the high commissioner,” he added.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday identified at least six American companies, including Airbnb, Expedia, Tripadvisor, Booking Holdings Inc., General Mills and Motorola, as operating in “illegal” Israeli settlements.
The report stems from a 2016 action directing the body to compile a list of businesses operating under Israeli control in the West Bank and its impact on the “civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights” of Palestinians.
“I am conscious this issue has been, and will continue to be, highly contentious,” Michelle Bachelet, the UN’s high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement. She added that the publication of the report “responds appropriately” to the 2016 resolution.
Risch said he had spoken with Bachelet and “believed that the OHCHR had already fulfilled its mandate by previous actions.”
Airbnb declined to comment on the report, and inquiries to the other companies were not immediately answered. A total of 112 businesses were identified in the report, and while the majority of businesses were Israeli, companies were also identified as being registered in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Luxembourg and Thailand.
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“This list and its public release were driven by politically motivated actors who seek to isolate Israel and undermine its right to exist,” Menendez said in his statement. “Actions like this further fuel support for the deeply misguided broader Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.”
“Congress will continue to stand on the side of American companies and against those who seek to undermine Israel’s right to exist,” he added.
The BDS movement is a global campaign that seeks to pressure Israel with economic, cultural and educational boycotts over its policies toward the Palestinians.
In January 2019, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation giving states more freedom to refuse providing government funds to entities that participate in BDS. House Democrats have held off taking up the measure over concerns it would violate the First Amendment.
The United Nations views Israeli settlements as illegal under international law.
The U.S. reversed its policy on Israeli settlements in November, announcing that it would no longer view territory occupied by Israel in the West Bank as illegal under international law.
The Trump administration has given a green light to Israeli officials to annex territory in the West Bank identified in its January peace proposal for Israelis and Palestinians but cautioned against implementing unilateral actions until a new government is formed after the March 2 elections.