Jacir Palace facts for kids
Jacir Palace, also known as Qasr Jacir (which means "Jacir Palace" in Arabic), is the biggest hotel in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is a city in the central West Bank.
This beautiful building was designed to look like a traditional Palestinian home. It has three floors, and each floor is very large, about 800 square meters! When it became a modern hotel, new things were added. These include an outdoor swimming pool, a health spa, and two meeting rooms. The hotel has 250 rooms for guests and many places to eat and drink, like restaurants and bars.
History of Jacir Palace
Jacir Palace was built in 1910. Local craftspeople worked hard to create it. It was built for Suleiman Jacir, who was the mayor of Bethlehem and a merchant. He was the great-grandfather of famous artists Emily Jacir and Annemarie Jacir. Suleiman Jacir wanted the palace to be a home for himself and his five brothers' families. They all lived there together for a while.
Changes Over Time
Sadly, the family faced financial problems in the 1920s. They had to leave the palace and sell all their furniture. After this, the building was used for different purposes.
In the 1940s, the British used Jacir Palace as a prison. Later, in the 1950s, it became a private school called al-Ummah. After that, it was used as a public school for boys, and then a public school for girls.
The palace's location was very useful. Because of this, the Israeli Army also used the house. It was a place where they could keep watch.
Becoming a Modern Hotel
In the year 2000, a group of Palestinian investors bought Jacir Palace. These investors were part of a group called PEDCAR, which is connected to the Palestinian National Authority. They worked to fix up and update the palace.
The hotel was closed for a few years, from 2000 to 2005. Today, the palace is owned by Munib il Masri, who is the father of filmmaker Mai Masri. It is now a grand hotel welcoming guests from all over the world.
See also
In Spanish: Jacir Palace para niños
- Abd al-Hadi Palace
- Orient House
Images for kids
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Jacir Palace Hotel
