Airbnb's stated position on Israel and Palestine
Airbnb has not issued a blanket statement saying it "supports" or "opposes" Israel as a country. Instead, the company has made specific operational decisions about listings in occupied Palestinian territories. In November 2018, Airbnb announced it would remove approximately 200 listings from Israeli settlements in the West Bank — areas that international law treats as occupied territory rather than part of Israel proper.
The company framed this decision as a business policy rather than a political stance. Airbnb said it does not list properties in settlements because doing so would contradict its community commitment to not profit from or contribute to the displacement of people. The policy applies to settlements specifically, not to listings inside Israel's 1967 borders, where Airbnb continues to operate normally.
In 2019, Airbnb reversed this decision after legal pressure and announced it would relist those West Bank properties. The company stated it would instead donate proceeds from those listings to humanitarian organizations working in the region, though it later walked back that commitment. As of now, Airbnb's official position is that it operates in Israel and lists properties there, but the company has not made a recent public statement clarifying its current policy on West Bank settlements.
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb removed West Bank settlement listings in 2018 but reversed that decision in 2019 after legal challenges.
- The company has not issued a statement declaring support for or opposition to Israel as a country.
- Airbnb continues to operate in Israel and list properties within its internationally recognized borders.
- The company's decisions have been driven by business and legal considerations rather than explicit political endorsements.
- Different countries and activist groups have different interpretations of what Airbnb's actions mean politically.
Why this question matters to users
People ask about Airbnb's stance on Israel and Palestine for different reasons. Some want to know whether their booking fees support causes they oppose. Others want to understand whether the company aligns with their own values before deciding whether to use the platform. Still others are researching corporate positions on geopolitical conflicts as part of broader consumer choices.
The challenge is that Airbnb's actual position — a series of business decisions about where to list properties — does not fit neatly into "supports" or "opposes." The company has not taken a political stance in the way a government or advocacy organization might. It has made operational choices that different people interpret very differently depending on their own views.
What Airbnb has actually said publicly
Airbnb's 2018 announcement stated: "We believe that companies, including Airbnb, should not profit from or contribute to the displacement of people." This language was directed at West Bank settlements, which the company identified as areas where listings could be seen as profiting from displacement.
When Airbnb reversed course in 2019, the company said it had decided to relist the properties but would donate a portion of revenue to humanitarian organizations. A spokesperson said the company wanted to "take a different approach" and that the previous decision had been divisive. However, Airbnb did not follow through on the donation commitment in a transparent or sustained way.
Since 2019, Airbnb has not issued major public statements about its Israel-Palestine policy. The company's investor relations materials and corporate responsibility reports do not highlight this issue as a current priority. This silence itself is meaningful to some observers, who see it as the company moving past the controversy without resolving the underlying questions.
How different groups interpret Airbnb's actions
Pro-Palestinian activists and organizations like the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement view Airbnb's 2019 reversal as a failure to take a stand against settlement expansion. They argue that relisting properties in occupied territory means the company is profiting from what they consider illegal occupation, regardless of donation promises.
Israeli government officials and pro-Israel organizations initially opposed the 2018 delisting but welcomed the 2019 reversal. Some saw the original decision as unfair discrimination against Israeli citizens and settlements. They viewed the reversal as Airbnb recognizing that political boycotts of Israeli businesses are inappropriate.
Airbnb itself has tried to position its actions as neutral business decisions rather than political ones. The company argues it is following its own community standards about displacement, not making a statement about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, critics on both sides argue that in a conflict context, business decisions are inherently political.
What this means for people using Airbnb
If you are deciding whether to use Airbnb based on its Israel-Palestine position, you should know that the company's stance is mixed and has shifted. Airbnb operates in Israel and lists properties there. It also lists properties in West Bank settlements after reversing its earlier removal policy. The company has not made a clear, sustained commitment to either side of the conflict.
Your own choice depends on what matters most to you. If you want to avoid supporting settlements, you can choose not to book properties listed as being in West Bank settlements — Airbnb's listings typically include location information. If you want to support Israeli businesses broadly, you can book properties in Israel proper. If you are indifferent to the geopolitical dimensions, you can book based on price and amenities as usual.
Airbnb's lack of a clear current policy means the company is unlikely to make new major announcements about this issue in the near term. The 2019 reversal appears to have been the company's final decision on the matter, even though it did not fully resolve the underlying controversy.
Other companies and similar conflicts
Airbnb is not alone in facing pressure to take positions on geopolitical conflicts. Ben & Jerry's ice cream has made explicit statements opposing Israeli settlement expansion. Hewlett-Packard faced boycott campaigns over its business in Israel. Starbucks has been targeted by both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups depending on the region and the issue.
Most large companies try to avoid taking explicit political stances on international conflicts because doing so risks alienating customers and investors on both sides. Instead, they make operational decisions — where to do business, what policies to follow — and let those decisions speak for themselves. Airbnb's approach is typical in this regard, even if the specific conflict makes the stakes feel higher to many people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does booking with Airbnb in Israel mean I am supporting the Israeli government?
No. Booking a private rental through Airbnb means you are paying the property owner and Airbnb's fees. It does not directly fund the Israeli government. However, if you believe that tourism spending in Israel indirectly supports government policies you oppose, that is a separate ethical question that depends on your own values.
Can I see which Airbnb listings are in West Bank settlements?
Airbnb listings include location information, and many specify whether they are in the West Bank or in Israel proper. However, Airbnb does not have a filter specifically for settlements. You would need to research the location yourself or contact the host to confirm whether a property is in a settlement area if that matters to your decision.
Has Airbnb made any recent statements about this policy?
Airbnb has not issued a major public statement about its Israel-Palestine policy since 2019. The company appears to have moved past the controversy without issuing new guidance. If you want current information about Airbnb's position, you can contact the company directly through its website.
What does the BDS movement say about Airbnb?
The BDS movement considers Airbnb complicit in settlement expansion because the company relists West Bank properties. BDS calls for boycotting Airbnb along with other companies it views as profiting from occupation. However, BDS is a decentralized movement, and not all Palestinians or pro-Palestinian activists agree with its tactics or targets.
Is there a difference between Airbnb's policy in Israel and its policies in other conflict zones?
Airbnb has not issued comparable public statements about other occupied territories or conflict zones. The company's Israel-Palestine policy is unusual in how much public attention it has received. Airbnb's approach to other geopolitical situations is less documented and less debated.