The Shepherd Hotel
A former hotel in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood whose site became the focus of a politically contentious residential development and demolition project.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Shepherd Hotel was a hotel in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem, occupying a historically layered property associated with the political, communal, and territorial history of the city. The principal building was constructed in the 1930s by Baruch Katinka, a Jewish engineer and partner in the Albina Katinka Dunia construction company. It was commissioned as a residence for Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Muslim Mufti of Jerusalem, although he did not live in the house. The right to reside there was instead transferred to his personal secretary, George Antonius, and Antonius's wife, Katy. The couple were prominent figures in Jerusalem's social life and hosted parties and gatherings at the property. After George Antonius died in 1942, Katy Antonius continued to live in the house and became associated with Evelyn Barker, commander of British forces in Palestine. She left the property in early 1947 after a nearby building was bombed by the Irgun. The Irgun said that it had attempted to warn her, but that her telephone line was constantly busy. This episode occurred amid the escalating violence and political conflict that preceded the end of the British Mandate. Following the establishment of the State of Israel, the property came under the control of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and was reopened as a hotel serving pilgrims. A later wing was added to the complex, obscuring part of the original architecture. After the 1967 Six-Day War, when Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the property was classified as absentee property under Israel's Absentee Property Law. It subsequently came under the control of the Israeli government and was used for public purposes, including by the Ministry of Justice and as a district courthouse. The property's planning history later became more important than its hotel operations. A Jerusalem planning scheme approved in 1982 designated the land for residential use. In 1985, the Custodian of Arab Property sold the building and surrounding land to Irving Moskowitz, a Jewish-American businessman known for supporting Israeli settlement activity in East Jerusalem. Under his ownership, the property was also referred to as the Sheffer Hotel. During the first Intifada, beginning in 1987, the Border Police leased the building and used it for approximately fifteen years before relocating to a facility near Highway 1. In 2008, C and M Properties Ltd. sought approval to construct two residential buildings containing twenty apartments, underground parking, flat roofs, and two floors above the parking level. The application was discussed by Jerusalem's licensing authorities in 2009. Although it was initially removed from the municipal committee agenda, the local planning committee approved the project on July 2, 2009. The approval allowed demolition of the existing buildings apart from the historic structure designated for preservation. The plan drew criticism from the United States government because it was approved while Washington was pressing Israel to support a settlement freeze and renewed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The project was delayed by a legal dispute involving a son of Faisal al-Husseini, a former Palestinian Authority minister responsible for Jerusalem affairs, who claimed that the Husseini family owned part of the property's parking area. The courts rejected that claim. Demolition of the hotel complex began on January 9, 2011. In February 2012, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the Husseini family could not assert ownership of the landmark because too much time had elapsed since Israeli authorities had transferred the property to private developers. The resulting development was described as the first settlement construction in Sheikh Jarrah since 1967. The Shepherd Hotel therefore ceased to function as a hotel and is chiefly remembered today as a contested historic site and a symbol in disputes over property, planning, preservation, and settlement construction in East Jerusalem.
History
The Shepherd Hotel was located in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, in a building erected during the 1930s. The structure was designed and built by Baruch Katinka, a Jewish engineer associated with the Albina Katinka Dunia construction company. Its original purpose was to serve as a home for Haj Amin al-Husseini, Jerusalem's Muslim Mufti, but he never occupied it. Instead, he transferred the right to live there to his personal secretary, George Antonius. Antonius and his wife, Katy, became well-known members of Jerusalem society and hosted social events at the house. Following George Antonius's death in 1942, Katy remained at the residence. She later became romantically involved with Evelyn Barker, the commander of British forces in Palestine. In early 1947, she departed after a nearby building was bombed by the Irgun. According to the account associated with the property, the organization said it had tried to warn her, but her telephone had remained continuously engaged. After Israel was established, the property was taken over by Jordan and reopened as a hotel for pilgrims. An additional wing was built, changing the appearance of the complex and concealing some of the original architecture. Israel assumed control of East Jerusalem after the 1967 war. The property was then classified as absentee property under Israeli law and transferred to the Government of Israel. Its use shifted from hospitality to public administration: it housed the Ministry of Justice and served as a district courthouse. The land was governed by Plan 2591, approved by the Jerusalem District Committee of the Interior Ministry in 1982. The plan designated the site for residential use. In 1985, the Custodian of Arab Property sold the property and surrounding land to Irving Moskowitz, a Jewish-American businessman and supporter of Israeli settlement activity in East Jerusalem. The property was also known as the Sheffer Hotel during this period. From the beginning of the first Intifada in 1987, the Border Police leased the building and occupied it for roughly fifteen years, later moving to a new facility near Highway 1. The hotel's final chapter began with a residential redevelopment proposal. On November 6, 2008, C and M Properties Ltd. applied to build two residential structures containing twenty apartments, underground parking, flat roofs, and two floors above the parking level. The Jerusalem municipal licensing committee considered the proposal in March 2009 but subsequently removed it from its agenda. On July 2, 2009, the local planning committee approved a revised request that allowed the existing buildings to be demolished, while requiring preservation of the historic structure. The United States government expressed displeasure to Israel's ambassador in Washington, viewing the decision as inconsistent with American efforts under President Barack Obama to encourage a settlement freeze and restart negotiations. Construction was delayed by a dispute over part of the parking lot. A son of Faisal al-Husseini, a former Palestinian Authority minister for Jerusalem affairs, claimed that the Husseini family owned the disputed area. The courts rejected the claim. Demolition commenced on January 9, 2011. In February 2012, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the Husseini family could not establish a present ownership claim because too much time had elapsed since the authorities had transferred the property to private developers. The associated construction was characterized as the first settlement construction in Sheikh Jarrah since 1967. The hotel no longer operates, and the site is principally discussed in relation to Jerusalem's contested property regime, historic preservation, and settlement policy.
- 2012
Supreme Court upholds developer's position
[1]The Israeli Supreme Court rejects the Husseini family's ownership claim because of the passage of time since the transfer to private developers.
- 2011
Demolition begins
[1]Demolition of the hotel complex begins on January 9.
- 2009
Municipal committee approves redevelopment
[1]The Jerusalem local planning committee approves demolition of the existing buildings apart from the historic structure designated for preservation.
- 2008
Residential redevelopment application is filed
[1]C and M Properties Ltd. applies to build two residential buildings with twenty apartments and underground parking.
- 1987
Border Police begin leasing the building
[1]The Border Police lease the property from the beginning of the first Intifada and remain for approximately fifteen years.
- 1985
Property is sold to Irving Moskowitz
[1]The Custodian of Arab Property sells the building and surrounding land to Irving Moskowitz.
- 1982
Residential zoning is approved
[1]Plan 2591 designates the land for residential use.
- 1967
Property is placed under Israeli control
[1]Following the Six-Day War, Israel occupies East Jerusalem and classifies the property as absentee property.
- 1948
Property becomes a Jordanian pilgrimage hotel
[1]After the establishment of Israel, Jordan takes over the property and reopens it as accommodation for pilgrims.
- 1947
Katy Antonius leaves the house
[1]She leaves after a nearby building is bombed by the Irgun.
Products and positioning
Historically significant Jerusalem lodging property later defined by its contested ownership, planning status, and redevelopment rather than by an active hospitality offering.
Hotel lodging
Shepherd Hotel accommodation
The property's principal commercial function was hotel accommodation in Sheikh Jarrah. During its Jordanian period, it was reopened to serve pilgrims. The available reference material does not document room counts, amenities, food-and-beverage operations, rates, or a distinct branded service concept.
Brand decisions
2009
Approval of residential redevelopment and partial demolitionStrategyBackground
The property had been designated for residential use under Plan 2591, and C and M Properties Ltd. proposed replacing the existing complex with two residential buildings containing twenty apartments and underground parking.
Action taken
Jerusalem's local planning committee approved the project, allowing demolition of the existing buildings except for the historic structure designated for preservation.
Aftermath
The decision prompted criticism from the United States, construction was delayed by an ownership dispute, and demolition began in January 2011. The hotel ceased to operate as a hospitality property.
Recent events
- 2012
Israeli Supreme Court rejects Husseini family ownership claim[1]
Lawsuit
The Supreme Court ruled that the Husseini family could not claim ownership of the landmark because too much time had passed since the property had been transferred by Israeli authorities to private developers.
- 2011
Demolition begins at the Shepherd Hotel property[1]
Other
Demolition of the existing hotel complex began on January 9 after planning approval and the resolution of a dispute over part of the property's parking area.
- 2009
Jerusalem committee approves redevelopment plan involving the Shepherd Hotel site[1]
Regulation · Other
The Jerusalem local planning committee approved a proposal for two residential buildings on the property, permitting demolition of existing structures except for the historic building designated for preservation. The approval attracted criticism from the United States because of its timing during efforts to promote a settlement freeze and renewed peace negotiations.
Sources1 sources
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