After a 20 year battle over the Petra and Imperial hotels at the Jaffa Gate, the Supreme Court ruled that the Jewish purchase was legal. The ruling slammed shut the Greek Orthodox Church’s attempt to stop the transaction. Despite the lawful nature of the purchase, the international community slammed the supreme court’s decision.

Russia claimed the purchase harms Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land.

“This decision by the court harms interethnic peace and raises justified concern for the state of the Christian community in the holy land. It is no coincidence that on June 6, some aggressive Israelis passionately busted into a bell tower belonging to the Jerusalem Orthodox church and desecrated it,” in a move Moscow described as “a clear sign of the willingness on the part of radical religious forces to begin to limit the footprint of Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land.”

Although there were false claims that Jews kicked out Christians, the purchase was legal and at least one hotel has Jewish history.

The Petra actually used to be a Jewish Hotel before the pogroms of the 1920s and 1930 forced the Jewish population out. Then the property fell to the hands of the Geek Orthodox Church. The Petra, originally the Amdursky Hotel was the go to hotel for well known visitors. Rav Kook, Herbert Samuel, and more stayed at the hotel.

With the ruling of the Supreme Court, the Jewish purchasers can now enter the hotels. While there won’t be any immediate changes, the hotels are on the way to returning to their former glory.