Airbnb is facing a discrimination lawsuit in San Francisco, where the company is based, over their policy to de-list from Israeli homes in Judea and Samaria.
The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of five Jewish Americans – two of whom reside in Efrat – argues that Airbnb’s policy is in violation of the Fair Housing Act as well as myriad California state laws for targeting only “residents of Israeli towns in Judea and Samaria and not to listings from any Arab or Palestinian towns in the region.”
“As a result, Jews and Israelis who live in Judea and Samaria, such as the [Eve and Earl] Harows, cannot rent out their property using Airbnb and Jews and Israelis throughout the world, such as the [Fay and Neal] Shapiros and Mr. [Joel] Taubman, cannot seek to rent accommodations in Judea and Samaria using Airbnb,” a press release from the plaintiffs’ attorneys states.
“Airbnb is eyeing the Israeli market to increase its offerings in the Middle East,” attorney Marc Zell said in a statement. “It is inconceivable that Airbnb would at the same time alter its longstanding policy against complying with the anti-Semitic BDS movement by delisting Jewish/Israeli accommodations in Judea and Samaria, while continuing to permit Arab homeowners located literally across the road to participate in the Airbnb program. This lawsuit aims to put an end to this nefarious policy.”
Airbnb did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment as of publication time.
In November, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt wrote in a letter to Airbnb that they were “dismayed” by the company’s policy and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement will “view it as a victory for their hateful campaign against Israel.” Airbnb has insisted that they do not support the BDS movement and that their policy will be implemented in other disputed territories.
