Airbnb is canceling an earlier plan to bar listings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The home-sharing company announced in November that it would remove about 200 listings in the West Bank, which is territory claimed by Palestinians. Airbnb announced this week it will now permit properties in Israeli settlements to be listed. The company also said it will donate all of the company’s profits from West Bank properties to humanitarian aid organizations. Airbnb said it will use the same approach in other disputed territories around the world, such as South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “We have always sought to bring people together and will continue to work with our community to achieve this goal,” Airbnb said. Supporters of Airbnb’s initial plan expressed dissatisfaction. Human Rights Watch said, “Donating profits from unlawful settlement listings … does nothing to remedy the human suffering.” The rights group added that, “By continuing to do business in settlements,” Airbnb remains active in the abuses settlements trigger.”
