Israeli Settlements in West Bank Face Scrutiny Over Rental Listings on Booking.com
Palestinian Family Alleges Land Taken Decades Ago Is Now Rented Out Online
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A report by Eko, a US-based advocacy group, reveals that properties in Israeli settlements on disputed Palestinian land are being rented out on Booking.com. The case of Mohammad al-Sbeih highlights the impact on Palestinian families, as his family's land was seized for settlement development. The legality of these settlements is contested under international law.
- 01Eko identified 41 listings on Booking.com across 14 Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- 02Mohammad al-Sbeih's family lost 12 acres of farmland in the early 1980s, now part of the Neve Daniel settlement.
- 03The International Court of Justice declared Israeli settlements in occupied territories unlawful in a July 2024 advisory opinion.
- 04Booking.com faces a criminal complaint in the Netherlands regarding its connection to settlement-related listings.
- 05The company claims it does not dictate travel destinations and is monitoring developments related to human rights.
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Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are under scrutiny following a report by Eko, a US-based advocacy group, which identified 41 rental listings on Booking.com across 14 settlements. These listings reportedly include properties built on land seized from Palestinian families over decades. One notable case is that of Mohammad al-Sbeih, a resident of al-Khader near Bethlehem, who stated that his family lost 12 acres of farmland in the early 1980s. This land is now part of the Israeli settlement of Neve Daniel, where a house is advertised as a scenic holiday rental. Al-Sbeih expressed his frustration, stating, “A settler is sitting on my land, making a beautiful home, renting it to tourists.”
The legality of Israeli settlements is widely disputed under international law, with the International Court of Justice asserting in a July 2024 advisory opinion that these settlements are unlawful. In response to the report, Booking.com defended its role, stating it merely facilitates travel and does not dictate where customers can visit. The company is also facing a criminal complaint in the Netherlands regarding potential violations of money laundering laws linked to its listings.
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The situation highlights the ongoing disputes over land rights in the West Bank, affecting Palestinian families and their livelihoods.
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