Spanish travel company eDreams removes accommodation listings in 'Israeli' settlements

The Spanish online travel company eDreams has announced that it has removed and will continue to block listings for accommodations in illegal 'Israeli' settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories from its website.

The move comes after some of the properties automatically appeared on the company's platform, despite its longstanding policy against doing business in the settlements.

In a statement to Reuters on Tuesday, eDreams' Chief Financial Officer David Alitaga confirmed that the company has always followed a policy of not providing services in illegal settlements in territories occupied by 'Israel'.

He explained, however, that some accommodation listings had automatically been uploaded to their website after being posted by owners on other platforms.

Alitaga did not specify how many properties had been removed but stressed that the company is actively working to ensure that its platform strictly adheres to its policy. He also stated that eDreams had been in communication with groups advocating for the boycott of companies doing business in the settlements.

The announcement from eDreams follows similar actions by other travel companies in recent years. In 2019, booking.com and Airbnb also faced pressure and scrutiny over their listings of properties in illegal 'Israeli' settlements.

Airbnb, for example, had initially announced it would delist around 200 properties in the West Bank settlements but later reversed its decision following a lawsuit.

The international community, including the United Nations, considers the settlements illegal under international law. They are viewed as a major obstacle to a lasting peace between 'Israelis' and Palestinians.