Israel/OPT: Over 800 European financial institutions have financial relationships with 58 companies actively involved in the illegal Israeli settlements, report finds
"Don't Buy into Occupation IV report November 2024", 26 November 2024
New and updated research by a cross-regional coalition of Palestinian and European organisations shows that, between January 2021 and August 2024, 822 European financial institutions (including banks, asset managers, insurance companies and pension funds) had financial relationships with 58 companies that are actively involved with illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
During this period, USD 211 billion was provided in the form of loans and underwriting to these companies. As of August 2024, European investors also held USD 182 billion in shares and bonds in these companies.
The financial data presented in this report refers to the total investments (shares, bonds, loans and/or underwriting) in companies that have activities in or business relationships with the illegal settlements in the OPT. These companies also conduct business outside the settlements...
The 58 companies for which this research found financial relationships with European financial institutions are: Airbnb; Alon Blue Square; Alstom; Altice International; Ashtrom Group; Axel Springer; Bank Hapoalim; Bank Leumi; Bezeq Group; Booking Holdings; Bright Dairy & Food; Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF); Carlsberg; Carrefour; Caterpillar; Cellcom Israel; Cemex; Cisco Systems; CNH Industrial; Danya Cebus; Delek Group; Delta Galil Industries; eDreams ODIGEO; Elbit Systems; Electra Group; Expedia Group; Hamat Group; Heidelberg Materials; Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE); HikVision; Hilan; Hyundai Heavy Industries; IBM; Israel Chemicals (ICL Group); Israel Discount Bank; MAN Group; Matrix IT; Mivne Group; Mizrahi Tefahot Bank; Motorola Solutions; Orbia; Partner Communications; Paz Oil Company; Rami Levy Chain Stores Hashikma Marketing 2006; RE/MAX Holdings; Shapir Engineering and Industry; Shikun & Binui; Shufersal; Siemens; Syensqo; The Coca-Cola Company; TKH Group; Tripadvisor; TUI Group; Villar International; Vinci / SEMI; Volvo Group; and WSP Global.
All 58 companies are involved in one or more of the “listed activities that raise particular human rights concerns”, which constitute the basis for inclusion in the UN database of business enterprises that are involved in Israeli settlements, which was published in February 2020 and updated in June 2023. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is currently preparing a new update, which is expected to be published in early 2025.
[Company responses in attachment]