KFAR ADUMIM, West Bank: Israel is threatening vacation rental company Airbnb with high taxes and legal repercussions over its decision to remove listings from Jewish West Bank settlements.
The threats step up Israel’s fight against a global movement advocating for boycotts over the country’s treatment of the Palestinians.
Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said Tuesday that Israel will seek to impose “very high taxes” on the company in order to restrict its operations in the country. He also says Israel will encourage hosts in settlements to sue the company to make it “pay” for its decision.
Airbnb’s decision on Monday sparked outrage among Israeli officials and settler leaders, but was welcomed by Palestinian officials and human rights groups that had long pressured the company to end its contentious West Bank settlement listings.
Israel steps up boycott fight after Airbnb settlement ban
Israel steps up boycott fight after Airbnb settlement ban
- Israel will encourage hosts in settlements to sue the company to make it ‘pay’ for its decision
- Airbnb’s decision on Monday sparked outrage among Israeli officials and settler leaders
Lebanese authorities arrest journalist at Hezbollah-run channel
- Aly Berro is accused of sharing social media videos insulting President Aoun and PM Salam and defending Hezbollah weaponry
BEIRUT: Lebanese authorities on Friday arrested Aly Berro, a journalist working for Al-Manar TV, which is affiliated with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, state media reported.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that authorities arrested “Al-Manar TV correspondent Aly Berro this evening, based on a warrant issued against him by the Attorney General Judge Jamal Hajjar.”
The NNA added that Hajjar instructed the security forces’ information branch “to begin questioning Berro in the presence of his lawyer, and a decision regarding his case will be made based on the interrogation.”
Berro shared many videos on social media over the past months in which he criticized Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and defended Hezbollah’s weaponry, often using offensive language.
Hajjar issued an arrest warrant for him in October, after he failed to appear for questioning three times over accusations that included insulting Salam, according to a judicial official.
On Monday, the Lebanese government banned Hezbollah’s military activities after it launched rockets on Israel to avenge the death of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, pulling Lebanon into the Middle East war.
Last year, after Hezbollah was weakened by its 2024 war with Israel, Beirut committed to disarming the group.
Hezbollah has rejected calls to surrender its weapons.
