RCA Condemns Discriminatory Airbnb Policy in Judea and Samaria

Nov. 20, 2018 — The Rabbinical Council of America, the leading organization of orthodox rabbis in North America, protests Airbnb’s recent announcement to “remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians.” While Airbnb considers itself “a global platform operating in 191 countries and regions and more than 81,000 cities,” to discriminate only against Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria is unconscionable. This action emboldens the BDS (Boycott, Divestiture and Sanction) anti-Israel movement, and is an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic double standard.  Rabbi Elazar Muskin, president of RCA noted, “We condemn Airbnb for this boycott of Judea and Samaria, call on people to contact Airbnb and express their outrage, and strongly recommend cancellation of any reservations until Airbnb changes policy.” 

The RCA calls on Airbnb to immediately change this policy.