Booking.com waters down advisory for properties listed in Israeli settlements

Online travel agency Booking.com has added safety labels to listings in the occupied West Bank, which Israel, having initially opposed the move, welcomed for not singling out Jewish settlements.

The move was rebuked by Palestinian officials, who said the advisory should only be used for Israeli settlements.

“After Israeli Pressure, https://t.co/JqLeA6EPAQ Waters Down West Bank Settlement Travel Warning” - What the warning should say is “You are renting an illegal property built on stolen land, shame on you.” https://t.co/wyNSlRLvLc.

— James J. Zogby (@jjz1600) October 1, 2022

The company now posts an advisory on its website when customers search for West Bank properties in both Palestinian cities as well Israeli settlements, which most countries deem illegal. The note recommends that customers review their governments' travel advisories for the area, which "may be considered conflict-affected".

Israel's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that following its "discreet and efficient" dialogue with the company's management, and despite concerns that the West Bank and properties owned by Israelis could be singled out, no such distinction was made.

The ministry said that the new marking will be used in about 40 areas around the world that are under dispute and applied to the whole of the West Bank as "single geographic unit".

Booking.com did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Abu Youssef, an executive committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said it was "unacceptable" for Booking.com not to distinguish between Palestinian properties and those in Israeli settlements.

Youssef said not making the distinction was "contrary to international and humanitarian law".

Israel occupied the West Bank following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and later annexed it, in violation of international law. Some 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank, considered illegal under international law.

Online travel companies like Airbnb and Booking.com have long been urged by Palestinian officials, activists and human rights groups to end their listings there.

(Reuters)