Over 150,000 people around the world have joined with a coalition of human rights and corporate responsibility groups to demand that Airbnb immediately end the illegal practice of listing vacation rentals in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Affordable housing and anti-gentrification activists across the country are also protesting Airbnb and its policies, which often drive property values up in working class neighborhoods, pushing families out of their homes.
Together, we’re calling on Airbnb to stop profiting from #StolenHomes.
As an Airbnb host myself (I rent a room in my home to out of town visitors), I like the idea of being able to earn extra income and be part of a community that shares itself with others. However, I don’t think it’s ethical that Airbnb would profit from home-shares in illegal properties. I appreciate Thomas Lee for saying explicitly that settlements are illegal under international law, without caveat or question. I think Airbnb needs to be clear about its standards for home shares and prohibit illegal properties.
I wanted to thank reporter Thomas Lee for his piece. It takes courage to clearly declare the settlements in Palestinian territories illegal. I was impressed that The Chronicle in these times of declining ad revenues is willing to stand up to big corporations like Airbnb and influential organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to speak the truth. Thank you. Live long and prosper
As an older Jewish woman with both U.S. (born in San Francisco) and Israeli (lived and worked there for nine years), citizenship, I want to thank Thomas Lee for his very straightforward and honest article. I totally agree with Stephanie Fox, deputy director of Jewish Voice for Peace, when she condemns Airbnb’s profiting from supporting Israel’s illegal activities. I sincerely hope that The Chronicle continues to report on these kinds of issues including covering the boycott, sanctions and divestment movement for what it really is. Distorting and/or hiding the truth helps neither Israel, nor, of course, the Palestinians. So thank you, again.
Thank you for publishing “Airbnb stumbles yet again, this time with West Bank settlements” (Mar. 10). By accepting whatever Airbnb charges for listings in Israeli settlements, Airbnb is giving an air of respectability to and profiting from Israel’s illegal settlement activity in the Palestinian territories. Occupation, Inc., a recent report by Human Rights Watch, says that any company doing business directly or indirectly with Israeli settlements should cease their activity, for these businesses supply jobs to settlers and taxes to the settlements municipal governments. Thus, culpability in Israel’s occupation extends not just to those companies who directly violate Palestinian human rights, such as Caterpillar, HP and Motorola, but also to those companies who help to make the settlements viable.
The Middle East peace process is a complex issue, and it’s hard know what’s right, and what positions to take a clear stance on; in particular for gentiles like me with innumerable Jewish friends and colleagues. But among all the shades of gray, the settlement issue is pretty black and white: They are clearly illegal, exactly as author Thomas Lee stated (kudos to him). It is beyond the pale that Airbnb is helping to rent out illegal residences on forcefully acquired ground. The issue is of great relevance to San Francisco and your readers, especially because of the large role that the Airbnb company plays in the city. But it’s also of relevance to the general public, and balanced informative stories like yours are of great help.
