BICOM

Israel has threatened to impose high taxes on Airbnb, following its decision to remove Israeli properties in the West Bank from its website.

Airbnb announced on Monday that it would delist 200 properties and cease operations in Israeli settlements. Explaining its decision Airbnb said settlements in the West Bank: “Are at the core of the dispute between the Israelis and Palestinians.”

Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin called on Airbnb to reverse what he called a “discriminatory decision” and “disgraceful surrender” to the boycott movement, vowing that Israel would retaliate.

“If you have a policy of discrimination against Israelis you cannot earn money in Israel,” he told the Associated Press

Levin said the government would encourage Airbnb hosts in the West Bank to sue the company and instructed the Ministry of Tourism to restrict the company’s operations across the country. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said that the company’s decision violates Israeli law prohibiting discrimination providing services and asked the attorney general to consider legal action. Anyone who has suffered from unlawful discrimination can sue for compensation of up to NIS 50,000 (around £10,500), without having to prove damages.

Responding to reports that Airbnb had been subject to a long standing campaign by activists from the movement to boycott Israel, Shaked said: “The actions of boycott organisations will not succeed…The State of Israel is determined to fight tenaciously against the unfair actions of organisations that seek to give themselves an aura of morality. They seek to do a terrible injustice to the residents of the State of Israel and we will not lend a hand to this.”

Airbnb’s decision is reported to have been taken ahead of a report published yesterday by Human Right Watch (HRW) called “Bed-and-Breakfast on Stolen Land.” The report investigates tourist rental listings by Airbnb and Booking.com and concludes that Israeli settlements discriminate against Palestinians, violate humanitarian law and Airbnb’s non-discrimination policy.

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat called Airbnb’s decision an “initial positive step,” and urged the company to extend its decision to Israeli listings in East Jerusalem.