Airbnb is under fire for property listings that critics say promote illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. Social media users have attacked the online vacation rental company for allegedly mislabeling and profiting from properties that are part of Israeli settlements located in the West Bank, which are deemed illegal under international law.



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The United Nations contends that all settlements past the Green Line — a border drawn up in 1949 as part of an armistice agreement between Israel and neighbors including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria —are against the law and are an obstacle to the peace process between Israel and Palestine. A search by CNBC found rentals in West Bank settlements like Tekoa, Ma'ale Rehavam and Kfar Eldad, which were listed as being part of Israel rather than Palestine. One of the Tekoa listings included a three-bedroom property which boasted an orchard, balcony and grape arbor "furnished in authentic oriental style," only a 15 minute drive from Jerusalem for $204 per night. Users took to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to chastise Airbnb for the listings, with some going so far as to call for a boycott. TWEET