As Israel deploys tanks in the West Bank for the first time in 20 years, we reveal how two of the world’s biggest travel companies are helping settlers commercialise stolen land

The villa is stunning. The private swimming pool; the lush, landscaped terrace with firepit; the long dining table with its expansive balcony view; the pingpong table; the piano. But the jewel in the crown, according to the Airbnb listing, is the experience of watching the sun rise over the nearby mountains from the luxury of the generous master bedroom.

The villa with views of the Judean mountains is in a settlement located on land seized from Palestinians and considered illegal under international humanitarian law. Only a handful of Palestinians are allowed to enter this, and other, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, usually as labourers with special permits.

Exclusive analysis carried out by the Guardian found 760 rooms being advertised in hotels, apartments and other holiday rentals in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, on two of the world’s most popular tourism websites.

  • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    20 days ago

    If the issue is stolen land, then shouldn’t we be boycotting these platforms until they are out of non-native USA and Canada? Doesn’t that make up thousands of times more of their business?

    • IndustryStandard@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      0·
      20 days ago

      Land disputes tend to end when an agreement is reached between natives and colonizers or the colonizers murder so many natives that there are no people to claim the land of their ancestors.

      America and Canada mostly fall in the second category. The natives have struck a peace deal and gained reservations but instead of demanding all the land back they are (rightfully) asking for financial compensation.

      What differs it from Palestine is that Israel is actively doing the ethnic cleansing and genocide in the present. And there is no peace treaty made which the Palestinians have accepted.

      Unless Palestinians agree to a deal they have the right over all the land back. From the river to the sea.

      In the present Palestinians are willing to agree to a deal favorable to Israel to end their suffering. Because Israel has the military advantage.

      However Israel does not accept it believing they can steal more land. They will lose everything as soon as their military advantage ends.

      • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        20 days ago

        Would you also ask airbnb to delist homes in East Jerusalem owned by Palestinian Israelis? Or is it only Jewish Israelis that should be boycotted?

          • gedaliyah@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            18 days ago

            Great, what would that look like? Other than buzz words, what specific policies would you like to see changed?

            Presently Israel is about 20% Palestinians, who have passports, study and teach in the same universities, vote, serve in the government, serve in the highest levels of the Judiciary, have guaranteed rights to practice their religion freely, educate children in their family’s language, etc. Please let me know if you would like sources for any of this. I’m happy to provide them.