US reveals it practiced pressure on UN in favor of Israeli settlements
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US State Department says that it has conveyed "concerns" to the UN human rights council against blacklisting companies operating in Israeli occupation settlements in the West Bank and al-Quds
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Construction is underway at the West Bank Israeli settlement of "Givat Ze'ev", Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022 (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
The United States confesses to practicing pressure on the United Nations against imposing sanctions targeting businesses operating illegal Israeli settlements within the occupied West Bank.
In a statement released on Friday, the US State Department revealed that Biden's administration has contacted the United Nations to convey a state of concern regarding blacklisting companies working in the illegal settlements.
Read more: Israeli occupation bulldozers demolish four Palestinian homes
The statement comes just days after the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that the administration would oppose Israeli settlement expansion and annexation in the West Bank.
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel stated that the United States will "oppose any work to update it [UN blacklist]" and has conveyed its concerns "directly with the Office of the High Commissioner"
"Our view is that this database only serves to reinforce an anti-Israel bias that too often finds traction in UN venues," he told reporters, adding that "this database poses a genuine threat to companies doing business or considering business operations in the region."
Read more: 'Israel' to approve 4,000 illegal settlement units in West Bank
Since 1967, the Israeli occupation has established more than 230 settlements in the West Bank and al-Quds with over half a million settlers living in them to date.
Despite the UN Security Council (UNSC) condemning the building of settlements, which under International law are all illegal, the Israelis continue expanding the annexation of more Palestinian land until today with no prospects of stopping in the future.
Earlier in May, an Israeli non-governmental organization revealed that "Israel" advanced plans on for 4,427 illegal settlement units for Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
The Civil Administration's high planning committee issued then final clearance to 2,791 units and preliminary approval to another 1,636 units.
