Airbnb’s Complicity in Human Rights Violations in Israel’s West Bank Settlements

In January 2016 Airbnb came under fire for listing homes in Israeli Settlements located in the occupied West Bank. A coalition of human rights organizations, corporate social responsibility groups, and over 150,000 civil society activists came together in response to demand that Airbnb stop listing homes in Israeli settlements, united under the slogan “Palestinians cant #livethere, so don’t go there.” This demand is part of a larger framework of human rights groups advocating for Palestinian rights and against the proliferation of illegal Israeli Settlements, as well as human rights groups advocating for corporations to uphold human rights standards throughout their business procedures. This paper examines the human rights responsibilities that Airbnb must maintain in relation to Israeli settlements. It then proceeds to review the relevant legal channels available to hold Airbnb accountable for complicity in Israeli violations of international law.