Discover Israel

These columns belonged to the new Turkish government building (سرای – Saraya in Arabic, meaning government). It was called "new" because there was an older one inside the walls of Jaffa. This was the residence of the governor of Jaffa. When the British Mandate took control of Jaffa in 1917, the building—designed by Jewish architect Baruch Papiermeister—became the headquarters of the Arab Commission, from which violent attacks were launched against the Jewish community. On January 4, 1948, the Jewish underground defense group Lehi bombed the building, leaving only these columns standing.

In the 19th century, this site served as the Turkish detention center known as Kishle. It later became the prison of the British Mandate and eventually the police headquarters of the State of Israel.
Adolf Eichmann was held here after being brought to justice in Israel in 1962.
Today, the site operates as a luxury hotel.

This unique entrance belonged to a building constructed by a Christian Maronite businessman from Lebanon named Iskandar Awad. He built hotels and ran his own travel agency. As a member of the Masonic lodge, the entrance features typical Masonic inscriptions, but also a Hebrew phrase: "Shalom Al Israel" (שלום על ישראל – Peace upon Israel), a traditional Jewish blessing, which is unusual coming from a Lebanese Christian. Iskandar changed his name to Alexander Howard to facilitate business with Europe. The street where this office is located was named "Rue Howard" in his honor.