Just found out about Airbnb a short while ago and thought it was cool and a service I hoped to use for future travel. Now…I’m not so sure.
$100 per night*(on top of subsidies from the Israeli government).
Occupied West Bank.
AirBnb
Whole House
8 Guests
4 Beds
Come stay at an illegal settlement built on stolen Palestinian land. This stolen home comes with views of the Apartheid Wall. You may hear occasional gunfire from the Israeli Occupation Forces firing zone, which recently replaced a destroyed Palestinian village nearby.
The Space
Accommodates: 8 (non-Palestinian)
Bedrooms: 4
Property Type: Illegal settlement
Amenities
Palestinian-free views
Swimming pool (filled with stolen aquifer water)
Stolen olive trees
Private roads
Jerusalem Stone
Armed Guards
Barbed Wire
Electrified Fences, to give that real “secure” feeling
Prices
For non-Palestinians: 100 dollars per night *(on top of subsidies from the Israeli government).
Cost to Palestinians in the West Bank: Stolen Home. Lost freedom.
Description
Overview:
Stay at your own vacation rental, located in an illegal settlement and in violation of international law. Support structural discrimination and theft of Palestinians’ land. Through fees earned from settlement vacation rentals, you will also help Airbnb profit from the continuing occupation and dispossession of Palestinians.
The Neighbourhood:
This home is located in an illegal Jewish-only settlement. These settlements are built by Israel on Palestinian land it has occupied since 1967, and are considered illegal under international law.
The space:
The stolen home includes views of the West Bank Apartheid Wall.
Guest Access:
Access is for non-Palestinian guests only. Guests with Arab-sounding names will be subject to additional scrutiny by settlement security.
House rules
All those would could be perceived as Arabs must be accompanied by armed guards while in the Settlement, for their own protection.
Source: Reuters
Source: NBC
Source: i24news
Summary
Equality:
Justice:
Legality:
Just found out about Airbnb a short while ago and thought it was cool and a service I hoped to use for future travel. Now…I’m not so sure.
Have been using airbnb for three years and this is the first listing that I am giving a 0/5. It violates international law and basic human rights! I would never rent a home built on land that was illegally stolen from Palestinians.
Palestine belongs to the Palistinians, not to invaders.
The perfect vacation-come with all of your luggage and leave you conscience at home.
What more could you ask for? Priceless!
I wouldn’t stay here! AirBnb should be ashamed of supporting Israel’s human rights abuses and oppressive policies.
This is a despicable attempt to flout international law for pure greed.
As a frequent Airbnb user to do this, I am just canceled my reservations for a four-day trip to California because of learning this very sad information about Israel and the West Bank
I do not usually weigh in on Israel because it is a minefield of emotion, however, Airbnb should know better than this. The occupied territories are in direct contravention of United Nations international law and as long as you host people there I will never use Airbnb ever again. Thank you.
airbnb is a good enough concept; it’s not values free though – I wouldn’t stay at the Hilton either if it was on occupied Palestinian land. I’m not sure I could sleep at night being complicit in a crime like land theft.
The Israeli have stolen not only land by illegally settled but also profiting with it. Utterly unforgivable. Return including houses land and profits they have made immediately.
It beggars belief that Aitbnb could be involved on promoting an apartheid state, and renting homes in illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian land!
$100 per night*(on top of subsidies from the Israeli government).