DUBLIN, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Ireland's High Court on

Thursday struck down a decision by the Irish police not to

investigate the legality of Airbnb ( ABNB ) operations in

Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, rejecting the

argument that it did not have jurisdiction.

The ruling does not automatically trigger an investigation

by police in Ireland, where Airbnb ( ABNB ) has its Europe and Middle

East headquarters, but it obliges the Irish police to consider

the matter afresh, the court heard.

The case was brought by Irish-Palestinian non-governmental

organisation Sadaka, which asked police to investigate whether

Airbnb ( ABNB ) had broken Irish law by operating in the settlements. It

argued that the police decision not to investigate due to

jurisdiction issues was "legally erroneous and irrational."

A lawyer representing the Irish police, Remy Farrell,

conceded the case on Thursday and said the matter would be

"considered afresh" by the respondents.

Airbnb ( ABNB ) did not immediately respond to an emailed request for

comment.

The company allows listings throughout the West Bank but

takes no profits from this activity in the region, the company

said in a 2019 statement, in which it said it had never

boycotted Israel or Israeli businesses.

More than 150 businesses, including Airbnb ( ABNB ) and rivals

Booking.com, Expedia ( EXPE ) and TripAdvisor ( TRIP ), are operating in

Israeli West Bank settlements deemed illegal by the U.N., a

report by the organisation's human rights office showed in

September.

Most of the international community considers Israeli

settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law.

Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to

the area. It says the settlements provide strategic depth and

security and that the West Bank is "disputed" not "occupied".

(Writing by Conor Humphries, Editing by Timothy Heritage)