Occupied Jerusalem- A fire destroyed part of the Orient House garden in the occupied city of Jerusalem, causing damage to a number of perennial palm trees, almond trees, and some roses.
Tel Aviv Tribune Net learned from a Palestinian source in Jerusalem that the Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood fire department quickly extinguished the fire, but it destroyed large parts of the garden trees to the right of those entering the building.
An eyewitness told Tel Aviv Tribune Net that the fire occurred in the front garden of the building, which was closed by the occupation authorities, and has been closed periodically since 2001.
It was not possible to confirm whether the fire was accidental or intentional, but the place has special symbolism for Palestinians.
Director of the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights, Ziad Al-Hammouri, told Tel Aviv Tribune Net that the causes of the fire “were not clear, as the place is closed and there are no guards.”
He added: “There must be an investigation and knowledge of the circumstances of the fire, given the sensitivity and importance of the place. It may be an active act, and if that is the case, then the goal is without a doubt to destroy a symbol of Jerusalem and the address of Jerusalemites, and to erase this landmark from the memory of the Palestinian people.”
Al-Hamouri pointed out that the occupation forces dispersed a few days ago a stand in front of the Orient House to commemorate the death of the leader Faisal al-Husseini, adding, “The Orient House is a great symbol for Jerusalemites in particular, and it was the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization.”
“Beit Al-Sharq” is located on Abu Ubaida Street, outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, but close to it. It was built in 1897 by the then Mufti of Jerusalem, Ismail Musa Al-Husseini.
It began to gain its symbolism when the late Palestinian leader Faisal al-Husseini was keen to receive his guests, including politicians, consuls, ambassadors, official visitors to Jerusalem, and popular delegations from all over the world, in it, until it became the semi-official headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization in the occupied capital.