A/HRC/31/42
should be held responsible for ensuring corporations’ respect for human rights and that they
should cease to fund or enter into commercial transactions with organizations and bodies
involved in settlements or the exploitation of natural resources in the occupied territories.
40.
The Special Committee recommended that the General Assembly call on the State of
Israel to inform Israeli and multinational corporations working in the occupied territories of
their corporate social responsibility to act with heightened due diligence and of the
international legal ramifications of business activities with negative human rights impacts,
and to take appropriate measures to prevent, investigate, punish and provide redress for
corporate abuse and/or exploitation of resources in the occupied territories through, inter
alia, effective policies, legislation, regulations and adjudication.
IV. Submissions by Member States pursuant to Human Rights
Council resolution 28/26
41.
On 19 October 2015, OHCHR addressed notes verbales to all Permanent Missions
to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, requesting
information on any steps their Governments had taken, envisaged taking or were otherwise
aware of to implement the recommendations of the fact-finding mission, in particular those
contained in paragraphs 116 and 117 thereof (see also paras. 5-6 of the present report).
42.
On 19 October 2015, separate notes verbales were addressed to the Permanent
Mission of Israel and the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine. OHCHR
requested the Government of Israel to provide information on any steps that it had taken or
envisaged taking to implement the recommendations of the fact-finding mission. It also
requested the Government of the State of Palestine to present relevant information
concerning the status of the same recommendations. At the time of the preparation of the
present report, no information had been received from the Permanent Mission of Israel or
the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine.
European Union
43.
In a note verbale dated 1 December 2015, the Permanent Mission of the European
Union to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
provided an update to its contribution of 24 November 2014, which was reflected in the
report of the High Commissioner on the same subject matter, presented in March 2014
(A/HRC/25/43).
44.
The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to its long-standing position not to
recognize the sovereignty of Israel over territories occupied in 1967, namely, the West
Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Syrian Golan.
45.
The European Union referred to the Council of Europe conclusions of 20 July 2015
on the Middle East peace process, in which the European Union recalled that settlements
were illegal under international law and reiterated its strong opposition to the settlement
policy of Israel and actions taken in that context, such as building the separation barrier
beyond the 1967 line, demolitions and confiscation (including of assets provided through
European Union-funded projects), evictions, forced transfers (including of Bedouins),
illegal outposts, settler violence and restrictions of movement and access.
46.
The European Union further stated that settlement activity in East Jerusalem
seriously jeopardized the possibility of Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both
States. The European Union reiterated that it would continue to closely monitor
developments on the ground and their broader implications and that it remained ready to
take further action in order to protect the viability of the two-State solution.
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