General Security logo. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's General Security on Friday warned Lebanese citizens against buying travel tickets from the online travel agency website Kiwi.com, which it claims is based in Israel.
According to Article 285 of the Criminal Code in Lebanon, any economic relationship with Israeli citizens is prohibited. Lebanon has not officially recognized Israel as a state. The law states that any Lebanese citizen who attempts a commercial transaction with an Israeli citizen is liable to a prison sentence of at least one year.
In a statement, General Security warned citizens against buying from Kiwi.com because "it turned out to be based" in Israel. According to the kiwi.com website, the agency had an annual turnover of $1.3 billion in 2019 and receives 100 million clicks per day. Business Insider says the company was founded in the Czech Republic in 2012, originally under the name of Skypicker. In 2016, it was rebranded to Kiwi.com
L'Orient Today contacted Kiwi.com for comment on General Security's assertion. In response, the company's press office sent a one line reply: "Thanks for getting in touch with this — Kiwi.com is based in the Czech Republic."
General Security could not immediately be reached for comment.