Palestinian Govt Seeks to Confront Companies Operating in Israeli Settlements

Palestinian Economy Minister Khalid Al-Esseily. (Facebook)
Palestinian Economy Minister Khalid Al-Esseily. (Facebook)
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Palestinian Govt Seeks to Confront Companies Operating in Israeli Settlements

Palestinian Economy Minister Khalid Al-Esseily. (Facebook)
Palestinian Economy Minister Khalid Al-Esseily. (Facebook)

Palestinian Economy Minister Khalid Al-Esseily announced Saturday that his government is working with international institutions to confront companies operating in Israeli settlements.

Since entering office in January, the Israeli government has approved plans to build thousands of new homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and has facilitated measures to further construct settlement houses.

It also passed a resolution that gives practically all control over planning approval for construction in West Bank settlements to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also said he would not freeze Jewish settlement building in the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

On Saturday, Al-Esseily told the Arab World News Agency that the UN Human Rights Office removed 15 companies from its blacklist of businesses operating in West Bank settlements and in Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem after they stopped their activities in those communities.

He said there are efforts to add two new companies to the list.

Last month, the UN Human Rights Office said these 15 companies no longer had ties with settlements. However, most of the international companies on the original list of 122 still remain.

The siege on the Gaza Strip, imposed for more than 17 years, has negative repercussions not only on the enclave, but on all of Palestine, Al-Esseily stressed, lamenting the low number of international donations.

He added: “Unfortunately, there is no support from the Arab world, except from a few countries, such as Algeria, which paid $54 million last year, and about $100 million in 2021.”

He indicated that Israel's deduction of approximately 260 million shekels per month from clearance funds led to an increase in the already existing deficit in the Palestinian Authority's budget.

Therefore, Al-Esseily called for activating the Arab safety net to deter Israel's economic measures imposed on Palestinians.

Despite the dire economic situation, Al-Esseily said the Palestinian Territories reported a growth of 3.6 percent in 2022, and of 7 percent in 2021. He expected the growth to reach 3 percent in 2023.



Barrack Says Hezbollah Involvement in Iran-Israel War Would Be 'Very Bad Decision'

A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
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Barrack Says Hezbollah Involvement in Iran-Israel War Would Be 'Very Bad Decision'

A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)

The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and Israel.

"I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision," Barrack said, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hezbollah in the war.

Barrack met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace and Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Hezbollah has condemned Israel's strikes on Iran and expressed full solidarity with its leadership.

Hezbollah on Thursday expressed support for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following threats by Israeli leaders that he could be killed.

In a statement, Hezbollah said that “threats to assassinate (Khamenei) are foolish and reckless, and will have disastrous consequences.”

But the group has stopped short of making explicit threats to intervene.

Israel's defense minister said Thursday that Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist" after an Israeli hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack.

"Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed -- he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal," Israel Katz told journalists in Holon near Tel Aviv. "Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist."

Killing Khamenei would "end the conflict" between Israel and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.