Jerusalem Municipality Sues Husseini Family for 4.9 Million Shekels in Property Taxes on Orient House

The Jerusalem Municipality has filed a lawsuit against the Husseini family, demanding 4.9 million shekels in unpaid property taxes for the Orient House building. The property, owned by the Husseini family’s Waqf, served as a key Palestinian Authority site and the PLO headquarters in Jerusalem before being closed by government order in 2001. Despite its closure and vacancy since then, the municipality claims that under the law, even vacant properties are liable for municipal taxes.

The Orient House, located on Abu Obeida Street in the Bab al-Zahra neighborhood of East Jerusalem, was originally built in the late 19th century by Ismail Husseini as a villa. Over the years, it functioned as a hotel and hosted various Palestinian institutions. The Husseini family is one of the most prominent Palestinian families in Jerusalem for over 150 years, alongside the Nashashibi family, with notable members including Abd al-Qader Husseini, a commander during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and Faisal Husseini, a Palestinian Authority leader.

The lawsuit was filed in the Jerusalem District Court against the Husseini Waqf through Lina Husseini-Halabi and Miral Husseini. The municipality previously sued the Waqf in 2019 for 2.8 million shekels in earlier tax debts, which the parties agreed to settle in 2024. However, due to non-payment despite prolonged negotiations, the municipality has also initiated enforcement proceedings. The current claim covers unpaid taxes from 2020 to 2025, including interest and linkage differentials. The case is represented by attorney Lior Shapira, and no defense has yet been filed.