Erdan Threatens to Ban Amnesty International

Israel is considering a ban on Amnesty International after the human rights group urged several tourist businesses to boycott the country, The Times of Israel reported.

Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan said on Wednesday that members of Amnesty International could face an entry ban after it accused Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor of profiting from “war crimes” by offering accommodations in Yehudah and Shomron.

“Amnesty International, that hypocritical organization that speaks in the name of human rights, is acting to promote a boycott of Israelis as part of a campaign of anti-Semitic delegitimization,” Erdan said.

Erdan, whose ministry is responsible for countering the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, called for a boycott of Airbnb last year after it said it would stop listing homes in Yehudah and Shomron for rental.

“I have instructed the Ministry of Strategic Affairs to examine the possibility of preventing the entry of members of Amnesty to Israel,” Erdan said, adding that he had recently also asked the Finance Ministry to revoke tax benefits granted to the organization, but did not say what came of that effort.