Commerce Criticizes UN 'Blacklist' of US, Israeli Companies

Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross criticized a “blacklist” recently released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights that lists 112 companies, including several U.S. businesses, that do business in a disputed Israeli-Palestinian territory. In a March 3 statement, Ross said boycotts against Israel and companies doing business with Israel “are contrary” to U.S. policy, saying the UN list is “anti-business” and ”seeks to isolate Israel, has no factual basis or legal force whatsoever, and should not be adhered to in any respect.” Ross said the U.S. “fully supports the U.S. companies identified on the list and encourages all U.S. businesses to continue to work with and invest in Israeli as well as Palestinian communities.”