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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 21 november 2018

Israel steps up boycott fight after Airbnb settlement ban

By ISABEL DEBRE stroy the Jewish state.
Associated Press The Palestinian-led move-
KFAR ADUMIM, West Bank ment claims responsibility
(AP) — Israel said Tuesday for pressuring some large
it would slap high taxes on companies to stop or al-
vacation rental company ter operations in Israel or
Airbnb and encourage le- the West Bank, including
gal steps against the site carbonated drink maker
over its decision to ban list- SodaStream, French con-
ings from West Bank settle- struction company Veolia
ments. and international mobile
The threats of sanctions phone giant Orange.
ramp up Israel’s fight Airbnb’s decision coin-
against a global move- cided with the publication
ment advocating for boy- of a Human Rights Watch
cotts over the country’s report Tuesday investigat-
treatment of the Palestin- ing tourist rental listings in
ians. The Boycott, Divest- settlements by Airbnb and
ment, Sanctions cam- Booking.com.
paign, also known as BDS, Entitled “Bed-and-Break-
has claimed a number of fast on Stolen Land,” the
successes in recent years, report says that Israeli
leading Israel to identify it settlements’ discrimina-
as a major threat. In this Jan. 17, 2016 file photo, Moshe Gordon sits outside guest house advertised on the Airbnb tion against Palestinians
Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv international home-sharing site, in the Nofei Prat settlement in the West Bank. uniquely violates humani-
Levin called on Airbnb to Associated Press tarian law and Airbnb’s
reverse what he called a in the 1967 Middle East world whose members can ties with Israel, they are us- nondiscrimination policy.
“discriminatory decision” war. Today over 400,000 Is- be denied entry upon ar- ing nonviolent means to Most Palestinians must ob-
and “disgraceful surren- raeli settlers live in the West rival. resist unjust policies toward tain a permit to enter the
der” to the boycott move- Bank, in addition to some BDS supporters say that in Palestinians. Israel says the settlements or Israel prop-
ment, vowing that Israel 200,000 Israelis in east Jeru- urging businesses, artists movement masks its mo- er and typically do so as
would retaliate. salem. and universities to sever tives to delegitimize or de- laborers.q
“If you have a policy of dis- Most of the international
crimination against Israelis community considers set-
you cannot earn money in tlements illegal and an im-
Israel,” he told The Associ- pediment to the creation
ated Press. of an independent Pales-
He also said the govern- tinian state. Israel sees the
ment would encourage territory as disputed and
hosts in West Bank settle- says the fate of the settle-
ments to sue the company ments must be resolved in
to make it “pay” for its de- peace negotiations with
cision. Levin added that the Palestinians.
Israel would impose other The boycott movement,
restrictions on Airbnb’s op- which calls for sanctions
erations in the country, against settlement prod-
without elaborating. ucts and companies doing
Airbnb announced on business in the West Bank,
Monday that it would delist has made inroads in recent
some 200 properties in the years, helping to tarnish Is-
coming days and cease its rael’s international image
operations in Israeli settle- and prompting it to take
ments “that are at the core retaliatory measures.
of the dispute between the Israel has enacted a law
Israelis and Palestinians.” banning any foreigner who
The company declined “knowingly issues a public
to comment on the Israeli call for boycotting Israel”
threats. from entering the coun-
Israel captured the West try. It has identified activ-
Bank and east Jerusalem ist groups from around the