The United Nations on Friday released an updated list of over 200 firms it said were involved in business with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, adding 61 companies to a database from 11 countries, bringing the total to 241. The move spotlights an issue inflaming tensions between Israel and Western governments imposing sanctions because of extremist violence against Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law.

The updated catalog came two weeks after Britain, backed by a dozen other countries mainly from Europe, announced restrictions on trade with the West Bank settlements. U.N. human rights commissioner Volker Türk said the list was "another reminder to companies that they have human rights responsibilities."

Israel’s mission to the U.N. in Geneva denounced the database as "a distorted mechanism created by a deeply flawed body" and a "political tool" to advance "a smear campaign." The United States previously condemned the database as evidence of bias against Israel.

Most of the companies listed are Israeli, but the database also includes 22 from 10 other countries. The U.N. list considers activities including supplying equipment for demolition, surveillance, and providing finance for settlements.