Dear Friends:

This is an urgent letter of appeal written to you as one who cares about stopping the violence and achieving a just peace for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In March of 2005 the front page of the Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv declared “Omar Bin Khattab Square is Ours”. In the months following it was revealed that the tenancy rights to the New Imperial Hotel were leased to a company called “Richards Investment Corp”. by a former accountant to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch using a Power of Attorney issued by the Patriarch.

Although the legality of the lease is questionable, lawyers representing the investors have written to claim the rights of their clients and while they correctly acknowledge that the Dajani family are protected tenants they attempt to minimize the legal protection of the tenants in order to seek eviction on of the Dajani family from the hotel.

Built in 1884, the New Imperial Hotel lies just within the Jaffa Gate on Omar Ibn Al Khattab Square where Omar, the Second Caliph of Islam entered the city peacefully by foot in 638 AD refusing to displace others after his capture of the city he visited the square symbolizes the ancient vision of Jerusalem as a city of peace open to all, a city that respects all religions and nationalities admitting to no exclusivist claims.

 The status of Jerusalem as a capital for two nations and a Holy City for three religions is a fundamental issue not subject to negotiation, leaving this issue to be determined by any final peace agreement in the Israel-Palestine context. The Status Quo of the Jerusalem cannot be changed without international supervision and approval.

The Dajani family is determined to play a “key role” in protecting its rights and annulling this illegal deal.

For more information about this scandal, kindly refer to the following links:
Palestine: Information with Provenance
http://student.cs.ucc.ie


Protection Palestine
http://www.protection-palestine.org