Bezeq

Category: Challenging

Israel's largest telecommunications company providing infrastructure to all settlements, military bases, and checkpoints, listed in UN OHCHR settlement business database

Listing: TASE HQ: Israel Website Updated: 6 Jan 2026

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Material Risk Framing

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Legal & Compliance

Listed in UN OHCHR database since 2020; provides infrastructure to settlements illegal under international law; Palestinian telecom dependency creates structural complicity

Financial & Investor

Subject to divestment by Denmark's Sampension (2017) and Norway's KLP (2021); Tel Aviv Stock Exchange listed; international investment at risk from ESG screening

Reputational & Brand

UN database listing provides authoritative documentation; infrastructure to military checkpoints directly supports occupation enforcement

Operational & Supply Chain

Palestinian telecommunications structurally dependent on Bezeq backbone; creates captive market benefiting from occupation

Strategic Analysis

In-depth assessment of the company's position, vulnerabilities, and recommended approaches for effective engagement.

CHALLENGING PRIORITY TARGET MONITORING TARGET Strategic Vulnerability → Severity → Severity: 9.5, Vulnerability: 5.5

High severity, lower vulnerability — requires long-term divestment pressure

Learn about our methodology — companies are categorised based on severity (harm potential) vs strategic vulnerability (campaign leverage).

Why do these scores change?

Unlike static boycott lists, our targeting model is dynamic. This company's position on the matrix is re-evaluated continually as we verify new contracts, divestments, or policy changes. Your reporting directly impacts this score.

Bezeq represents the backbone of Israeli occupation telecommunications infrastructure. As Israel's largest telecom company, Bezeq builds and maintains infrastructure to every illegal settlement in the West Bank and Golan Heights, as well as IDF military bases and checkpoints. The company's structural position is even more significant: Palestinian telecommunications providers are forced to depend on Bezeq's backbone infrastructure, creating what Who Profits describes as a "captive market" that monetises occupation. The UN OHCHR inclusion since 2020 and multiple pension fund divestments demonstrate growing international recognition of this complicity.

Key Leverage Points

  • UN Database Listing: Official OHCHR documentation provides authoritative basis for divestment campaigns
  • Divestment Precedents: Denmark Sampension (2017) and Norway KLP (2021) establish model for other institutional investors
  • Structural Complicity: Infrastructure to military checkpoints and Palestinian telecom dependency demonstrate active occupation role
  • YES Satellite Subsidiary: Direct service to settlement subscribers provides additional documented complicity

Evidence Summary

The evidence against Bezeq is exceptionally strong. Who Profits documents comprehensive infrastructure to "all illegal Israeli settlements" plus military bases and checkpoints. The Palestinian telecom captivity - where providers must use Bezeq backbone - demonstrates structural occupation benefit beyond simple service provision. The UN OHCHR database, updated through 2025, maintains Bezeq's listing among businesses enabling settlement activity. Multiple European pension funds have formally divested citing human rights concerns.

Engagement Strategy

Build on existing divestment precedents by targeting additional pension funds and institutional investors using UN OHCHR database as authoritative source. Document the Palestinian telecom dependency to demonstrate structural complicity beyond settlement service. Engage telecommunications industry associations on ethical standards and international law compliance. Support campaigns highlighting Bezeq's role in checkpoint infrastructure as direct occupation enforcement. Target ESG screening firms to ensure Bezeq inclusion in settlement exclusion lists.

Evidence & Sources

Verified sources including NGO reports, regulatory filings, and primary documents. Use these to substantiate your correspondence.

NGO
2024-01-01
AFSC Investigate: Bezeq Profile

Documents infrastructure to settlements, military bases, checkpoints, and Palestinian telecom dependency

Open source
NGO
2024-01-01
Who Profits: Bezeq Profile

Details telecommunications infrastructure to all settlements and exploitation of Palestinian captive market

Open source
News
2021-07-05
Norway KLP Pension Fund Divestment

Norway's largest pension fund divests from Bezeq citing unacceptable human rights risk

Open source
Official Doc
2020-02-12
UN OHCHR Settlement Business Database

Bezeq listed among 112 companies furthering Israeli settlement activity in occupied territories

Open source
News
2017-10-01
Denmark Sampension Divestment

Denmark's third-largest pension fund excludes Bezeq due to settlement investment activities

Open source

Updates & Milestones

  1. Latest UN Update

    Continues to be listed in expanded database now containing 158 companies

  2. UN Database Update

    Remains listed in updated OHCHR database of settlement businesses

  3. Norway KLP Divestment

    Norway's largest pension fund KLP divests citing human rights violations risk

  4. Denmark Divestment

    Sampension, Denmark's third-largest pension fund, divests from Bezeq

  5. UN Database Publication

    Listed in initial UN OHCHR database of 112 companies involved in settlement activities

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