Call for Airbnb to stop listing properties in illegal settlements

Airbnb, one of the leading companies in the “sharing economy”, is coming under fire for allowing its users to list and rent accommodation in illegal Israeli settlements.

The company, which allows its users to list, find and rent lodging through its website, has more than 300 properties listed as being part of Israel, including those in illegal settlements in the Palestinian Territories.

The Palestinian Authority asked Airbnb to remove any Israeli listings over the Green Line, with senior Palestinian official and chief negotiator Saeb Erekat sending a letter to Airbnb’s CEO demanding the company refuse entries from settlers.

“It’s not only controversial, it’s illegal and criminal,” Husam Zomlot, the ambassador-at-large for Palestine, told Al-Jazeera, adding that the Airbnb website is promoting stolen property and land. Airbnb has yet to respond to the complaints.

Human rights group have been calling on people all over the world to take action, by sending letters of complaint to the company and participate in online campaigns. There have also been calls to boycott Airbnb until it removes the listing.

Several rights groups, including Jewish Voice For Peace, American Muslims for Palestine, and CODEPINK recently launched a #StolenHomes campaign asking Airbnb to immediately stop listing vacation rentals in Israeli settlements.

“Airbnb’s anti-discrimination policy states that they prohibit listings that promote racism, discrimination, or harm to individuals or groups, and require all users to comply with local laws. Yet, listing vacation rentals in illegal settlements promotes structural discrimination, theft of Palestinians’ land, and direct violations of international law. Through earning fees from settlement vacation rentals, Airbnb is directly profiting from the continuing occupation and dispossession of Palestinians.”

The call for Airbnb to take down settlement listings coincides with the release of a report by Human Rights Watch on 19 January which concluded that businesses operating in settlements contribute to and benefit from “an inherently unlawful and abusive system that violates the rights of Palestinians.”

A statement by the campaign reads:

Their olive trees uprooted, water poisoned, children murdered, homes demolished, & you want to make it your new vacation spot? #StolenHomes

— صراط (@luleeya95) January 27, 2016