In November Airbnb announced that they would no longer allow home or room listings in the West Bank.
Despite there being many disputed territories in the world, Judea and Samaria were the only disputed locations in the world that were not welcome on the Airbnb platform. Airbnb operates everywhere else where it is legally allowed to do so.
Today, Airbnb announced that they have settled lawsuits about the ban by removing the restriction. Airbnb says that they will operate in all disputed territories worldwide including the West Bank, but will donate all profits to “non-profit organizations dedicated to humanitarian aid that serve people in different parts of the world.”
Airbnb further states that, “Airbnb has always opposed the BDS movement. Airbnb has never boycotted Israel, Israeli businesses, or the more than 20,000 Israeli hosts who are active on the Airbnb platform. We have always sought to bring people together and will continue to work with our community to achieve this goal.”
Did you boycott Airbnb over the policy? Will you start using them again?
You can signup to Airbnb with this referral link to get $40 off your next $75+ home booking and you can earn 5 points per dollar by using an Ink Cash card to buy Airbnb gift cards at an office supply store.
I just wonder what will happen to Airbnb profits if Native Americans dispute the sale of Manhattan or if Mexico disputes US occupancy of California and Texas 😉
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59 Comments On "Airbnb Agrees To Restore West Bank Listings To Their Platform!"
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I will start using them again
I only used them to rent a Camel and a cave…so I guess business was slow..
I cancelled my AirBnB back then. When they call it Yehuda and Shomron, I will sign up again. 🙂
Yes and yes. Thanks for keeping us updated
Great news l’kovod Pesach!!
Yes I boycotted and sent multiple letters to airbnb and called them as well. I am rethinking now. The idea that they are donating the profits still demonstrates antisemitism and a double standard, but it is certainly better
I will continue to boycott
Will continue to boycott
I absolutely did boycott. Don’t really know the story. Sounds like their PR department and their lawyers got together and figured out how to get themselves out of this, but I’m not sure how I feel going forward… We are supposed to be a forgiving people, but I don’t think there’s any mitzvah to support those who seek to hurt us.. I want to hear what others think
I don’t plan on continuing a boycott.
This seems pretty fair to me, and what’s the point of a boycott if you don’t agree to lift it when a fair offer is made?
Seems like there still sticking it to us by “ donating profits” like there begrudgingly doing is a favor. I will continue to boycott till I see a consistent standard applied to Jew and gentile alike.
I will try not to use them
What about if the profits now go to an anti-semetic non-profit?
I agree. Will continue to boycott
This is interesting mostly from a slightly different perspective; does anyone not believe this will have a significant disincentive effect on other multinational corps trying to follow the BDS line? This is awesome news.
I completely boycotted them even if it would cost me money. Due to the settlement I still feel sour about them doing it originally so will only use them if the money saved is more than a few dollars. I will still be attempting to use other platforms but not at any cost.
I will be doing the same..
They are still not being consistent with their stance. Why not donate the funds from Crimea etc. To a non for profit as well?
Obviously they were in a corner here and this was the only way out..
I boycotted them and will continue to try to use any other platform unless the amount saved is significant.
putting the cot back into boycott
I just might.
Nope! They caved to pressure, they didn’t decide to go back because it’s the right and just thing to do, Israel was the only country this dirt isolated, their goal was achieved. I don’t need them to “agree”. I’ll never give them any business and will continue to discourage friends from using them.
What’s wrong with caving to pressure? Isn’t the point of a boycott to get a company to cave to pressure?
Not really. They should do it because it’s the right thing to do.
The problem with the pressure, is that Jews are always a minority and if we relay only on that we will lose most of the times.
Yes, I boycotted and cancelled $8k with of future bookings. I will consider them again in the future.
Why are you referring to it as the West Bank? AirBnB might but you don’t need to.
I cancelled my Airbnb account. I would consider using them again but not so fast. This whole experience left me with a bad view of the brand. Particularly when they said they are not boycotting Israel, when in fact they were boycotting. Thanks to Governor DeSantis of Florida for boycotting Airbnb and taking a stand.
Agree 100%. We got what we wanted – it is a huge win for anti-BDS. If we don’t show that we are willing to resume doing business with a company after they go back on their previous erroneous business decisions, then what is the incentive for them to bend? They don’t have to do it out of the goodness of their heart – as long as they do it. They are a business, not an individual.
Yup, this is my take.
Seems like your just happy to finally use them again, whether this descision is right or wrong…..
Um, nope.
We boycotted. They caved. The end. What else is the point of a boycott?
Probably worthwhile to show some lingering mini boycott to discourage other Silicon Valley copycats. I’d be more inclined to embrace AirBnB if the settlement carried a monetary penalty, it likely did not. Another issue is the profit comment, which is only to placate the anti-Semites roaming their corporate offices (and some clients pushing for the original blacklisting). There was virtually no profit from this region anyway, so giving $6K a year or something tiny like that to charity (PLO will enjoy the money I’m sure), when they were going to give something to charity anyway and money is fungible, is simply their way of saying, we detest Israel, but we run a business so we’ll handle this in a professional manner to save face.
I had a $4K booking that I cancelled and replaced with a $120 1-night booking – promo code to boot, so they’re not going to be profitable on this 1-night stand.
I will use them again. If you boycott aren’t you hurting Israelis who want you to stay at their properties?
To be honest, I’ve started using VRBO ever since the boycott and they were great. Had a trip in Miami that the owner cancelled on me and they got me another place and paid the difference.
Will I go back? Yes. I will start to use their site.
Still recommend comparing prices as VRBO is catching up, and their fees are lighter on landlords
Major props to Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, President of Shurat-HaDin, who is a total rockstar and congratulations on this major win for the anti-BDS effort. Shurat HaDin is at the forefront of fighting terrorism and safeguarding Jewish rights worldwide. They are dedicated to protecting the State of Israel. By defending against lawfare suits, fighting academic and economic boycotts, and challenging those who seek to delegitimize the Jewish State, Shurat HaDin is utilizing court systems around the world to go on the legal offensive against Israel’s enemies. (Check them out: https://israellawcenter.org/)
As for me, I’m so annoyed at Airbnb that it will be hard to go back. But I will most likely include their listings in my price comparisons.
In case you are interested, there was more than one lawsuit that led to Airbnb’s change in policy. I was counsel on one of those lawsuits. The text of our press release announcing the settlement is below.
Airbnb Reverses Policy of Removing Listings in Israeli Settlements, Settles Discrimination Lawsuit
April 9, 2019
Airbnb today agreed to reverse its controversial decision to de-list accommodations in Israeli towns and settlements located in Israel-administered Judea and Samaria (also known as the West Bank), settling a U.S federal court lawsuit alleging that the de-listing policy illegally discriminated against Jews. Under the settlement, Airbnb will allow listings from all such Israeli towns and settlements. “We are pleased that the settlement of this lawsuit puts an end to this unfair, misguided, and discriminatory policy,” said plaintiffs’ attorney Marc Zell. “And we are honored to have played a key role in the policy reversal.”
On November 19, 2018, Airbnb announced a new policy under which it would “remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians.” The announcement outraged the Israeli government and generated anger in Israel and among Jews worldwide, spurring many to cancel their Airbnb accounts and some to file legal actions in various jurisdictions.
In January 2019, five United States citizens, represented by attorneys Zell and David N. Schultz, filed the most comprehensive of these civil rights lawsuit against Airbnb, and the first in federal court in San Francisco, where Airbnb is headquartered (Harow, et al. v. Airbnb, Inc., 3:19-cv-00395-JCS), claiming this Airbnb policy illegally discriminated on the basis of religion and national origin in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, and California’s unfair competition law. The plaintiffs, Eve and Earl Harow of Efrat, Fay and Neal Shapiro of Los Angeles, California, Uri Pilichowski of Mitzpe Yericho, and Joel Taubman of Scottsdale, Arizona, are US or dual US-Israeli citizens who owned or wished to rent listed properties in what effectively are the only areas in the West Bank in which Jews and Israeli citizens may reside.
Airbnb claims a longstanding policy against complying with the BDS movement seeking to isolate Israel, and promotes itself as a community bringing people together around the world. Airbnb provides listings nearly everywhere without regard to religion or national origin, including in areas where territory is in hot dispute. But, as Zell noted, “Uniquely in territory administered by Israel, Airbnb policy delisted only Jewish/Israeli accommodations, while permitting Arab listings located literally across the road.”
Schultz pointed to the strong antidiscrimination laws of the United States and California. “We are extremely pleased that Airbnb has realized its error and is reversing its policy. Even if Airbnb had enacted this policy with good intentions, the practical anti-Jewish discrimination it caused has no place under American law.” Schultz pointed out that Airbnb’s de-listing policy “first, effectively prevented all people anywhere in the world, including US citizens, from using Airbnb to rent only in Jewish communities or Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria; second, it effectively prevented only Jews, including US citizens, who own property in the West Bank from listing rentals; and third, effectively prevented only Jews, including US citizens, from renting accommodations anywhere in Judea and Samaria. This settlement restores equal rights and access to all.”
Abraham Katsman, an attorney working with Zell and Schultz on the suit, suggested that the delisting policy had been a serious, if unintended, misstep by Airbnb. He recognized that Airbnb has faced pressure from several groups promoting boycotts of Israel and self-styled “human rights” organizations which are one-sided and rabidly anti-Israel, and that Airbnb apparently drew on their advice in crafting the de-listing policy for Jewish settlements. “Airbnb may well have adopted this policy without thinking through either the justice of the decision or its discriminatory legal ramifications. The reversal of this policy brought about by settling our suit should restore equal treatment for all, consistent with Airbnb’s stated principles—not to mention those of the United States of America.”
Furthermore, noted Katsman, the conflict is infinitely more complex than Airbnb may have appreciated, especially regarding settlements re-establishing Jewish population centers in areas where Jews had lived for thousands of years. “Calling settlements ‘the core of the conflict’ may make for a good sound-bite, but it’s a gross oversimplification, misleading from a historical perspective and deficient from a legal one.” Illustrating his point, Katsman explained that, “There are settlements on what had been Jewish-owned land until, in 1948, the Jewish inhabitants were massacred by Arab forces; in 1967, upon Israel regaining control of those areas, orphaned children of those original inhabitants re-established residence there. On what moral grounds does one justify de-listing those returning residents’ Airbnb rentals? Or seriously maintain that such a settlement is at ‘the core’ of the conflict?”
Zell added that the settlement strikes a blow against the BDS movement, which had claimed credit for Airbnb’s November announcement. “Whether or not Airbnb had any direct connection with BDS, the movement was certainly thrilled with Airbnb’s adoption of the discriminatory policy; I hope they are now equally disappointed by this settlement and Airbnb’s doing the right thing by reversing that policy.”
For further information, please contact:
L. Marc Zell, Adv.
+972-2-633-6300
+972-52-869-9000
mzell@fandz.com
David N. Schultz, Esq.
+1-310-839-3150
+1-310-658-8530
Schu1984@yahoo.com
Abraham Katsman, Esq.
+972-50-823-6918
abekatsman@yahoo.com
Big Yasher Koiach!!!
Interesting, lawsuits were disallowed because Airbnb specifically has an arbitration clause in its customer agreements. Thanks for the effort, but this was an effort from a group of over 1,000 arbitration cases that were brought.
The lawsuit we brought was not disallowed because of Airbnb’s arbitration clause. On the contrary, we argued in our First Amended Complaint that Airbnb’s arbitration provision was unenforceable against the six plaintiffs involved in our lawsuit. You should read our First Amended Complaint, which I would be happy to provide.
Having said that, Airbnb changed its policy because of everyone’s efforts: our lawsuit, other lawsuits, the various arbitration cases you mention, actions taken by state governments, etc.
Keep up the good work!
It’s a complicated issue… they are settling lawsuits they didn’t want to fight and much easier to restore a few hundred listings than go through litigation and bad press. However they are still agreeing it’s a disputed area and one they don’t want to profit from and are donating to humaniatarian causes which indicates to me that they still aren’t on board with Israeli policies toward that region… I’d be on the fence
They are also doing the same for south ossieta and Abkhazia
There are other Kosher options recently for Short Term Rentals Worldwide as well,
Koshnb.com and Chrental.com and Koshack.com
If one can support one of the “kosher”/pro-Israel short term rental sites, that’s better for a slew of reasons. But if the rental one is seeking is only on Airbnb, who are you punishing by boycotting?
“I just wonder what will happen to Airbnb profits if Native Americans dispute the sale of Manhattan or if Mexico disputes US occupancy of California and Texas ”
So the near genocide of America’s Natives is an ironic funny point for you Dan?! What the pilgrims and initial migrants did to the Natives of this land is a political point for you? Im a multi-yr ddfan, muslim and supporter of justice. I endure your pro Israeli government posts because i benefit monetarily( as do u from this site). Capitalism= America. I support my Jewish and Christian and Hindu cousins as long as they are for peace and justice in humanity.
I wanted to post a scholarly and critical retort as to why the BDS movement is relevant and justified. I know it would fall on the deaf ears of your hard line Israeli government zionist supporters (why waste my time with facts and fairness). Instead i will simply say- May justice prevail.
(Note: i’ve posted anti-Israel Govt posts on the commentary in the past and they were published without censure. I THANK YOU DD FOR THIS!!! I wanna quote a great American philosopher named Eminem- “Im all for America but eff the government”. I agree with him now still and on the state of Israel implicitly.)
ps… As a ddfan and news-addict who do u wish wins the Israeli election and why?? Thanks
Nope, just pointing out the irony. Where does Airbnb plan to draw the line?
If you tried posting pro-Israeli or pro-Jewish comments on a BDS or Palestinian website, your comments would be removed.
Yet, all of your anti-Israel comments were posted by Dan, who is clearly pro-Israel.
Unlike many Palestinians, Jews would love to live in peace with their neighbors, if only their neighbors would accept them and not try to kill them.
If the Arabs would lay down their arms, there would be peace. If the Israelis would lay down their arms, there would be genocide.
Good to know most of you are in favor of boycotting because you oppose boycotting. Seems like a contradiction or at least you are making the point of the BDS movement that boycotting is a way to affect an outcome without violence.
Found an alternative, called credit card points. Sign up bonuses means no AirBnB any time soon
Yes, I dropped Airbnb over their decision and have no intention in using their services again. As a result of their absurd decision https://koshnb.com/ was established for the good.
Thanks, Dan, for focusing attention on the discriminatory policies of Airbnb. I will not “boycott” Airbnb, but will continue to look for alternatives to using their service. Airbnb finally modified their discrimination against Jews not because they woke up and decided to do the right thing, but because of the multiple lawsuits and the impact on their intended IPO that has been deferred. Airbnb supported the BDS movement, and we consumers should not soon forget that.
Bibi winning helps as well….
I feel that it is now worse to use airbnb then ever before.
Who do you think they are going to donate the proceeds too? starving people? i dont think so… The PLO is also a “organization”!
We can not change the way people feel… the most we can do is change our selves. Hashem Yismor!
Done with AirBnB forever. They only bowed to pressure, but showed their true colors in their ban. They can enjoy their anti-semitic client base, but this Jew is thru with them.
To me, this is akin to a kid being forced to say “‘I’m sorry” to someone and doing it and then sticking their tongue out.
They reversed their decision, but are still making their statement. I would be hard pressed to use them again.
Sorry to see the bigotry here..
Occupying Palestinian land by force and if somebody objects, it becomes issue of anti-semitism.
They were attacked in at least 5 wars and were occupied out of self defense. Maybe next time don’t shoot up your neighbors and then cry foul when you lose.
Somehow when Jordan was “occupying” this land that was ok? It was only when Israel lashed back that it became a problem? From 1948-1967 Jordan attacked and occupied this area and expelled the Jews from their homes – that was all just fine with the world, right? They blew up synagogues in the old City that were there forever and the world was quiet. Jews fought back and won and then it’s a problem?
Yes the world’s obsessive compulsiveness about the world’s only and TINY Jewish state is blatant antisemitism. No other country on earth faces the endless UN resolutions and threats to their existence like this tiny corner.
I’m through with them. I cancelled my account and don’t ever plan on using them again. Let them know that being racist bigots can and will affect their bottom line. They were forced to reverse course through lawsuits and other pressure, not because they saw the light and repented. It’s still the same garbage running the company. We BH live in a capitalist society that lets me take my business elsewhere. I’m free to use a company that isn’t blatantly anti-Semitic.