UK Has £2.1bn in Public Contracts With Firms Linked to Israeli Settlements
An Al Jazeera investigation has found that at least 17 companies linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank hold UK public-sector contracts worth more than £2.1bn ($2.89bn).
The companies have secured 125 contracts covering areas including road maintenance, transport, emergency services and driving-licence enforcement. The findings come as more than 140 UK Labour MPs call for a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
Five major corporate groups identified by the UN as being involved in settlement-related activities account for much of the contracts: Motorola Solutions, Heidelberg Materials, Egis, Spanish trainmaker CAF and Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.
Motorola subsidiaries are the largest beneficiaries, holding 91 UK public contracts worth about £1.73bn. Its British subsidiary Airwave Solutions alone has a £1.56bn Home Office contract providing secure communications for police, fire and ambulance services.
Heidelberg Materials companies hold 25 UK contracts worth nearly £185m. Its Israeli subsidiary previously operated the Nahal Raba quarry in the occupied West Bank, although the company says activities there stopped in 2023.
French engineering group Egis has six UK public contracts worth £133.6m. It has also been involved in Jerusalem’s light-rail network, which connects Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.
Spanish company CAF holds an £83.5m UK contract to supply trams for the West Midlands Metro. The company is also involved in Jerusalem’s light-rail expansion, with construction expected to continue until 2027.
Fosun International, which owns Israeli cosmetics company Ahava, has UK public contracts worth about £1.29m through its subsidiary Breas Medical.
The findings have raised legal and political questions over Britain’s commercial ties with companies linked to settlements. International law experts say the UK could face obligations to prevent activities that contribute to maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The UK government says public authorities assess suppliers individually and that procurement rules do not allow broad boycotts unless formal sanctions, embargoes or restrictions are in place.