Israel and Airbnb Clash Over Rental Homes in Jewish Settlements

Israel expressed anger over the action of an American company that removed rental homes in Jewish settlements from its list of suggested tourist accommodations. Airbnb announced this week that it has removed rental homes for tourists located in Jewish settlements in the West Bank from its listings. The company defended its decision by emphasizing that Jewish settlements are located in disputed Israeli-Palestinian territories and are centers of tension. Although only about 200 homes in the settlements were registered for tourist rentals, this small number did not prevent senior Israeli officials from expressing their outrage at the company. Gilad Erdan, Israel's Minister of Public Security, stated at a Jerusalem Post diplomatic conference that Airbnb's decision aligns with the goals of the BDS movement, which encourages the boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel. According to Erdan, 'the BDS movement and terrorism are two sides of the same coin, both affirming violence against Israeli citizens.' He added that his government is urging the U.S. to expedite legislation against the BDS movement and those who comply with it. Erdan also called on other countries to enact similar laws. According to the Jerusalem Post, he mentioned that Israel would promote other tourism companies like Booking.com that have not boycotted the settlements instead of Airbnb. The fate of the settlements is one of the most significant issues in all peace proposals presented by the U.S. government and the international community so far. Ayelet Shaked, Israel's Minister of Justice, also emphasized on Wednesday that her country would take action against Airbnb's decision. According to the economic publication Demarker, Shaked suggested that by implementing a law passed last year in the Israeli parliament, which considers differentiating between products made in Israel and those from the settlements a 'crime,' rental homes in the settlements for tourists should also be classified as 'homes located in Israel.' The Justice Minister, whose party, 'Jewish Home,' supports the settlements, also added that Airbnb's operations could be halted throughout Israel. The Council of Jewish Settlements in the West Bank criticized Airbnb's decision, calling it 'surrendering to terrorism.' Several American Jewish organizations, such as the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which pursues Nazis, called on Jews worldwide to boycott the company's services in response to Airbnb's decision. However, Palestinians and their supporters viewed the company's decision as the beginning of justice and supported it. Airbnb has been operating in California for the past ten years, with annual revenues exceeding $2.5 billion. A boycott of the company or damage to its reputation could seriously impact its revenue and stock value. Israel occupied the West Bank during the June 1967 war, which had been under Jordanian control two decades earlier. The UN General Assembly, in December 2016, passed Resolution 2334, deeming the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem a 'flagrant violation of international law' and called for a halt to these constructions; however, Israel strongly rejected this resolution, stating it holds no value. The abstention of the U.S. government at the time under President Barack Obama on the last day of his presidency regarding Resolution 2334, while the same government and previous administrations had used vetoes in votes on resolutions related to settlements, led to a severe political clash between Israel and the Obama administration. The government of Donald Trump, a staunch supporter of Israel, has recently announced its readiness to present a new peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians, but it seems unlikely that it would demand Israel's withdrawal from the settlements, where about half a million Israelis have settled in recent decades.