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Dutch prosecutors have confirmed they are actively investigating a criminal complaint filed against Booking.com regarding its listing of rental properties located in Israeli settlements. The complaint, submitted by the Dutch non-profit organization SOMO in collaboration with three other human rights groups back in November, alleges that Booking.com is complicit in profiting from war crimes by facilitating the rental of vacation homes on land purportedly seized from the indigenous Palestinian population.
Brechje van de Moosdijk, a spokesperson for the prosecutors, has stated that they are currently scrutinizing the complaint but refrained from providing a specific timeline for any potential further actions. Meanwhile, Booking.com has responded to the allegations, asserting its disagreement and emphasizing the absence of any laws expressly prohibiting listings in Israeli settlements. Additionally, the company highlighted the existence of various U.S. state laws that would prevent divestment from the region.
The SOMO organization disclosed that their research uncovered up to 70 listings for properties situated in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank on Booking.com's platform between 2021 and 2023. They argued that the revenues generated from renting out these properties constitute "proceeds of criminal activities." Furthermore, they allege that by processing these proceeds in the Netherlands, Booking.com is in violation of Dutch anti-money laundering regulations.
Israeli settlements, established on land seized by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war, are deemed illegal by most countries, including the Netherlands, and remain a deeply contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital, Israeli settlers often cite historical Jewish connections to the land in defense of their presence in these territories.
By fLEXI tEAM
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