Raghib al-Nashashibi ( ar, راغب النشاشيبي, ) (1881–1951), CBE (hon), was a wealthy landowner and public figure during the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

, the British Mandate and the Jordanian administration. He was a member of the Nashashibi clan, one of the most influential families in Palestine, and mayor of

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

from 1920 to 1934.

Background

Nashashibi graduated from

Istanbul University , image = Istanbul_University_logo.svg , image_size = 200px , latin_name = Universitas Istanbulensis , motto = tr, Tarihten Geleceğe Bilim Köprüsü , mottoeng = Science Bridge from Past to the Future , established = 1453 1846 1933 ...

and became Jerusalem's District Engineer. The Nashashibis were one of the oldest and most influential Jerusalem families, and historical rivals of the

Husayni Husayni ( ar, الحسيني also spelled Husseini) is the name of a prominent Palestinian Arab clan formerly based in Jerusalem, which claims descent from Husayn ibn Ali (the son of Ali). The Husaynis follow the Hanafi school of Sunni Islam, ...

family.

Political career

Nashashibi succeeded

Musa Kazim al-Husayni Musa Kazim Pasha al-Husayni ( ar, موسى كاظم الحسيني, ) (1853 in Jerusalem – 27 March 1934) held a series of senior posts in the Ottoman Empire, Ottoman administration. He belonged to the prominent al-Husayni family and was mayor ...

as mayor of Jerusalem in 1920, serving in 1927 with Haym Salomon and Jacob Faradj, who were elected as vice-mayors. He was a leading opponent of the Husayni family in Palestine. In 1937 he secretly favoured union with Transjordan. Nashashibi was a founding member of the

Arab Higher Committee The Arab Higher Committee ( ar, اللجنة العربية العليا) or the Higher National Committee was the central political organ of the Arab Palestinians in Mandatory Palestine. It was established on 25 April 1936, on the initiative of ...

and a leader of the National Defence Party. In August 1949 he was appointed head of the new

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Ri ...

ian ministry for refugees and rehabilitation and was appointed first Governor-General for Arab Palestine in September of that same year. In 1950 he became Jordanian Minister of Agriculture and later Minister of Transport. He was also appointed as custodian of the Holy Places of Jerusalem with cabinet rank.

Personal life

His second wife, a French Jew, lived on Kantura street. Their eldest son was Mansur.

Bibliography

* Sayigh, Yezid (2000). ''Armed Struggle and the Search for State: The Palestinian National Movement, 1949-1993''. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

References

External links