Was this building ever a luxury hotel? Look at the Orient House before you. It stands proudly a testament to a complex history. Built in 1897 by Ismail Musa Al-Husseini it was originally intended as a family home. Distinguished guests like Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia once graced its halls. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the Orient House found itself on the Jordanian side of the ceasefire line. It became the headquarters of UNRWA and later a luxury hotel called The New Orient House.
Following the 1967 Six-Day War Israel gained control of East Jerusalem. The hotel closed and the building fell into disrepair. In 1983 the Arab Scientific Association a PLO-affiliated group rented part of it. The Orient House became a symbol of Palestinian national aspirations. This naturally attracted Israeli attention.
In 1988 Israel closed the Orient House citing security concerns. It reopened in 1992 after an international outcry. Under Faisal Husseini’s leadership Orient House became a hub for Palestinian activity in Jerusalem. It housed various departments including an international relations office a press office and a legal aid department. For a time it even flew the Palestinian flag. The Orient House also housed the Arab Studies Society a significant research organization.
The Orient House played a key role in the lead-up to the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991. However tragedy struck in 2001 when Faisal Husseini passed away. Just months later in August 2001 Israeli authorities raided and permanently closed the Orient House. All computer equipment files and data were confiscated. The closure aimed to prevent the Palestinian Authority from undermining Israel’s sovereignty in Jerusalem. The Orient House remains closed. It is a poignant reminder of the ongoing conflict and the complexities of Jerusalem’s past and present. The building stands silent but its story echoes powerfully.