Spain to probe firms tied to occupied Palestinian territories

Spain last week banned the promotion of such goods and services in Spain to prevent firms from benefiting from the Israeli occupation of Gaza. Above, a billboard advertising ‘50 new settlements have been recognized’ outside the Israeli settlement of Kohav HaShahar in West Bank. (AFP)

• The UN has released an update of its database of companies with activities in Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories
• Spain is one of the most vocal critics in Europe of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza

MADRID: Spain’s leftist government said Tuesday it will investigate companies that advertise products or services in the country that originate in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
The measure follows the approval of a decree last week that bans the promotion of such goods and services in Spain to prevent firms from benefiting from the occupation, the consumer ministry said in a statement.
The decree is part of a package of measures that includes an arms embargo on Israel aimed at halting what Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called “the genocide in Gaza.”
Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy said earlier this year his office would use “all necessary resources” to ensure no company operating in Spain profits from the occupation.
“No firm should have its balance sheet stained with the blood of the Palestinian people,” the statement quoted him as saying at an event in July.
The United Nations on Friday released an update of its database of companies with activities in Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, listing 158 firms from 11 nations.
But one of the Spanish firms cited, builder ACS, swiftly requested to be removed from the list, saying it had in 2021 sold its subsidiary, SEMI, that operates in Israel.
“ACS does not carry out any activity in Israel or in the Israeli settlements,” the company, led by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, said in a statement.
Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, although most are considered legal by Israel.
Some so-called “outposts” are illegal, but often tolerated and sometimes later legalized.
Spain is one of the most vocal critics in Europe of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which was launched in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.