The Scottish Government is investigating whether public money has been handed to companies with links to “illegal” Israeli settlements in Palestine.
The UN human rights office issued a report last year naming 112 firms it said were linked to building programmes in the occupied West Bank.
The blacklist includes Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia Group and Motorola Solutions.
The Palestinians have hailed the report a “victory for international law” but Israel reacted furiously calling it “shameful”.
And now moves are under way to check what links Scotland has to those companies.
Business minister Ivan McKee has said he will investigate whether any of them have received public money or support in Scotland, and then write to any identified to demand an update on their operations in Palestine.
The commitment came in response to a parliamentary question from Greens MSP Ross Greer.
He asked the Scottish Government if it would bar the firms identified by the UN from getting support.
McKee responded: “I have asked officials to write to the chief executives of relevant public bodies to remind them of the policy guidance, make them aware of this UN list and ask them to provide information to officials on any relationships they have with companies on this list.
“Following this, I will write to any companies, thus identified, seeking an update on their activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and what they are doing to cease those specific activities – as identified by the independent international fact-finding mission, which provided the basis for their inclusion in this list.”
About 600,000 people live in 140 settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel has always disputed this.
The Palestinians have long called for the removal of the settlements, arguing that they challenge their claim for an independent state.
Scottish Greens external affairs spokesperson Greer said: “Scotland’s commitment to uphold and defend human rights must be demonstrated by actions, not just words.
“That’s especially true when there is a clear breach of international law, like the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and the rampant abuse of Palestinian people by illegal settlers.
“It has now been made clear to Scottish public bodies that they should not be complicit with this illegal occupation.
“We must stand up for the basic rights of all Palestinian people.”
The UN report came after four years of work and listed companies supplying equipment and materials or providing services such as banking facilities that were aiding the demolition of Palestinian properties or construction of new settlements.
Of the entities listed, 94 are domiciled in Israel and 18 in six other states – the US, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Thailand and the UK.
At the time the Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, said: “The publication of the list of companies and parties operating in settlements is a victory for international law.”
