UK public sector holds £2.1b in contracts with firms linked to illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine: Al Jazeera

At least 17 companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank hold United Kingdom public-sector contracts worth more than £2.1 billion ($2.85 billion), according to an investigation by Al Jazeera.

The findings come as more than 140 UK Labour MPs call on the government to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements, a move Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering.

An analysis of procurement records, company filings, and corporate disclosures revealed that businesses named by the United Nations over their involvement in illegal Israeli settlements – along with their subsidiaries – have secured contracts across the British public sector, reports Al Jazeera.

These contracts cover essential areas including road maintenance, transport, emergency services, and driving licensing, says the report.

Stephen Humphreys, professor of international law at the London School of Economics, told the Qatar-based outlet that Britain may also be failing to meet its legal obligations by failing to launch its own investigation into their activities to prevent them if necessary.

Data compiled by public procurement analysts Tussell shows the 17 entities hold 125 public-sector contracts with a combined award value of £2.129 billion ($2.89 billion).

Companies owned by US technology giant Motorola Solutions account for more than £1.7 billion ($2.3 billion) of the total, primarily through its British subsidiary Airwave Solutions, says the Al Jazeera report.

The UK Home Office awarded Airwave a £1.562 billion ($2.13 billion) extension to provide the secure communications network used by police, fire, and ambulance services across England, Scotland, and Wales.

UN records show Motorola technology, including command-and-control systems and surveillance, is embedded in security infrastructure across illegal settlements such as Hebron, Karmei Tzur, and Ariel, as well as the Israeli Civil Administration and police, the report mentions.

It adds that other contracts are held by firms within four additional corporate groups identified by the UN Human Rights Office: German multinational building materials company Heidelberg Materials, French engineering group Egis, Spanish train manufacturer CAF, and Chinese conglomerate Fosun.

Five Heidelberg Materials companies hold 25 UK public-sector contracts worth £184.79 million ($252 million), largely through Hanson Quarry Products Europe Ltd. Its Israeli subsidiary, Hanson Israel, owns the Nahal Raba quarry on Palestinian land in the West Bank, the report states.

However, Heidelberg said Hanson Israel ceased all activities at the quarry and associated plants in 2023, leaving only security personnel on site.

Egis-controlled entities hold six UK public-sector contracts worth £133.6 million ($182.4 million), including a £133.23 million ($181.9 million) contract with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, according to the investigation.

Egis serves as a general consultant for Jerusalem's light-rail network, which connects illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem with West Jerusalem.

Egis said it has formally expressed disagreement with its inclusion in the UN database.

Spanish manufacturer CAF holds an £83.5 million ($114 million) contract with the West Midlands Combined Authority for urban trams.

CAF owns a 50% stake in TransJerusalem J-Net Ltd, which was awarded a 1.8 billion euro ($2.10 billion) project to construct and extend light-rail lines through East Jerusalem, with construction continuing into 2027.

Fosun International, through its subsidiary Breas Medical, holds two UK public contracts worth £1.29 million ($1.76m), the report says.

The news outlet found that Fosun owns cosmetics manufacturer Ahava, which operates in the Mitzpe Shalem illegal settlement and extracts Dead Sea mud from occupied Palestinian territory.

The findings follow a July 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice declaring Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful and placing obligations on third-party states not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticised the commercial ties, stating that the UK government is propping up apartheid and deepening its complicity.

In response, the UK's Cabinet Office stated that individual public authorities make decisions to exclude suppliers on a case-by-case basis.

It added that public procurement in the UK should not be used to boycott suppliers linked to other countries unless formal UK sanctions, embargoes, or restrictions are in place.