Airbnb Accused of Discriminating Against Jewish People Over Israeli Settlement Policy

Airbnb is allegedly discriminating against Jewish people by barring listings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a new lawsuit claims. The short-term residential rental company was sued in San Francisco federal court earlier this week over a policy it enacted last November over occupied settlements, according to CBS San Francisco. According to the lawsuit, Airbnb’s prohibition is discriminatory because it solely applies to locals in the Israeli towns of Samaria and Judea, but doesn’t apply to any Palestinian or Arab cities in the area. After the company launched the new policy, it said in a statement that “As a global platform operating in 191 counties and regions and more than 81,000 cities, we must consider the impact we have and act responsibly.” The lawyers suing Airbnb reportedly said in a statement that “Airbnb is eyeing the Israeli market to increase its offerings in the Middle East. It is inconceivable that Airbnb would at the same time alter its longstanding policy against complying with the anti-Semitic BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement.”