The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called out Amnesty International’s latest report advocating for Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor to boycott East Jerusalem communities as part of a “biased anti-Israel campaign.”
Amnesty’s “Destination: Occupation” report, which was released on January 29, accused the aforementioned countries of “contributing to, and profiting from, the maintenance, development and expansion of illegal settlements, which amount to war crimes under international criminal law.”
“To boost bookings, many listings in settlements boast of their proximity to areas of natural beauty in the occupied territories, such as the Dead Sea, nature reserves and the desert,” the report states. “By listing and promoting these natural features and nature-based activities and attractions the digital companies are increasing the attractiveness of the listings, securing greater numbers of tourists and ultimately benefiting financially from the illegal exploitation of Palestinian natural resources.”
The report also chided Airbnb for not de-listing Israeli homes in East Jerusalem and for not properly enforcing their policies.
The ADL responded to Amnesty’s report by tweeting that “boycotting & demonizing Israel does nothing to advance any efforts toward peace.”
“We urge @Airbnb, @bookingcom, @Expedia and @TripAdvisor to not give in to this biased, anti-Israel campaign,” they added.
Boycotting & demonizing Israel does nothing to advance any efforts toward peace. We urge @Airbnb, @bookingcom, @Expedia and @TripAdvisor to not give in to this biased, anti-Israel campaign. https://t.co/stEr2rrmaL
— ADL (@ADL) January 30, 2019
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) similarly tweeted:
Amnesty would do well to shift focus & urge corporate entities and gov'ts to halt any funding to the PA that might be used for terror payments.
They should advocate clearly against the continued incitement and encouragement to terrorism that proliferates in these territories. https://t.co/mqZZdEyDRR
— World Jewish Congress (@WorldJewishCong) January 30, 2019
“Amnesty International is a serious and respected human rights organization, whose work to stop abuses around the world should never be underrated,” WJC executive vice president Robert Singer told the Jewish Chronicle. “But its singular focus on corporate entities doing business in Israeli settlements is gravely misguided and undermining of the organization’s true mandate.”
NGO Monitor issued the following Twitter thread in response to the report:
The @amnesty campaign solely targets these companies working in #Israel and ignores their activity in every other conflict area/disputed territory throughout the world. #China? fine. #Syria? No problem. #Israel? #NoJewsAllowed 2/8
— NGO Monitor (@NGOmonitor) January 29, 2019
The @amnesty campaign also targets Jewish connections to biblical sites, including in #Jerusalem, following @UNESCO's absurd #antisemitic claims that #Jews have no connection to the Western Wall, Temple Mount, or Cave of the Patriarchs in #Hebron #NoJewsAllowed 3/8
— NGO Monitor (@NGOmonitor) January 29, 2019
.@amnesty denies #Jewish connection to the holy land and doesn't want #Jews or #Christians to visit their historical holy sites in #Jerusalem. #NoJewsAllowed 4/8 pic.twitter.com/LyOEYmpMRA
— NGO Monitor (@NGOmonitor) January 29, 2019
As we've noted, @amnesty employees have a history of #antisemitism. Int'l Sec Gen @kuminaidoo referred to #Israel as a "government that is rogue." 5/8
— NGO Monitor (@NGOmonitor) January 29, 2019
At least three @amnestyUK officials @AlexNeveAmnesty were members of the #antisemitic Facebook group #PalestineLive where self-described @amnesty fundraiser shared articles denying the #Holocaust. 6/8
— NGO Monitor (@NGOmonitor) January 29, 2019
In 2015, at @amnestyUK's annual general meeting, it rejected an initiative to combat #antisemitism. All other resolutions at the meeting were adopted. #NoJewsAllowed 7/8
— NGO Monitor (@NGOmonitor) January 29, 2019
In conclusion, it's clear that @amnesty's campaign is just another #antisemitic attempt to deny #Jewish history and to single out #Israel. Read our full analysis: https://t.co/iAgGRz6HlR 8/8
— NGO Monitor (@NGOmonitor) January 29, 2019
Israeli Strategic Affairs and Public Safety Minister Gilad Erdan has said that he is looking into possibly banning the organization from entering Israel in light of the January 29 report.
“The hypocritical Amnesty organization speaks in the name of human rights, and in effect promotes boycotts against Israeli citizens as part of the anti-Semitic boycott and de-legitimization campaign,” Erdan said.
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