THE decision by the online letting agency Airbnb to stop listing properties in illegally-built Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem is being widely welcomed. However, it must be wondered why this hugely successful international online operation ever thought in the first place that it was acceptable to hire out settler homes.

As with social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter it clearly seemed enough for the founders of these organizations to develop a compelling business idea and code up a highly user-friendly online interface, then sit back and rake in the money. Airbnb along with cab-hailing service Uber and its imitators, has gloried in its disruption of established markets. In doing so it has come up against local regulators intent on trying to protect traditional suppliers. The so-called citizen journalism, for all its inaccuracy and fake news has brought into sight the end of printed newspapers and seriously undermined the once dominant role of the big broadcast media operations.

But overturning any established commercial model in the buccaneering manner of Airbnb never gave these organizations the right to flout the law, not least international law. Israel has been condemned repeatedly by the United Nations for its brazen disregard of the land rights of the Palestinians. The Israeli government has sanctioned the corrosive growth of settlements on stolen Palestinian property.

The Netanyahu administration has reacted predictably. There is talk of suing Airbnb and a call as gone out for Israeli supporters around the world to boycott the lettings service. No doubt the Zionist lobby in Washington will now seek to extract some sort of regulatory revenge by having its tame members of Congress do all they can to attack Airbnb.

Unfortunately the Trump administration and significant sections of the Republican party appear to have been bought and paid for by the US Israeli lobby. Sheldon Adelson, an 85-year-old billionaire who made his fortune from casinos, gave the GOP $82 million in the 2016 election campaign, reportedly in return for Trump’s pledge to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Other online lettings agencies are being urged by human rights organizations to follow Airbnb’s lead. However, they are already coming under intense Zionist pressure to continue their business in the illegal settlements.

Israeli plans to take Airbnb to court look doomed to failure unless of course the case is heard in Israel. But what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. There is now a clear opening for the Palestinian Authority or some human rights organization acting on its behalf to sue any other lettings agencies that refuse to end their operations in the West Bank. Any income earned there will surely not justify the expense of fighting a court case, even if it is quietly funded by Zionist groups. But more importantly is the reputational damage. Knowingly handling stolen property, which is what they are doing, is a crime.