UN list shows at least 214 companies in Israeli settlements - Heidelberg Materials remains listed

According to a UN list, at least 214 companies are involved in the construction of settlements in the areas occupied by Israel. The vast majority of these companies are based in Israel, eight companies are based in the USA, including Expedia and Airbnb. The German cement company Heidelberg Materials is also still in the database created by the UN Human Rights Office on behalf of the Human Rights Council.

The German company Heidelberg Materials is accused of “using natural resources, especially water and land, for business purposes.” The company had already rejected inclusion on the list in 2025 as unjustified. This is about the subsidiary Hanson Israel. Heidelberg Materials defended itself in September 2025 and had already stopped its activities in the Nahal Raba quarry, an asphalt plant and a ready-mixed concrete plant in the West Bank in 2023.

The UN human rights office said it stood by its original assessment after reviewing the case. However, five other companies were removed from the list after an examination. On the list, however, there are two companies each from China, France and Great Britain, as well as companies based in South Africa, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Mexico and Spain.

Israel criticizes UN list

Israel criticized the database again. It was set up "to persecute the Jewish state" and serves "a smear campaign against commercial companies." According to a ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are considered illegal.