The Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Arab Politics 1930-1937

Key takeaways

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Reading notes

• I shall try, however, to examine the role played by the Mufti, the first among the Palestinian leaders, and therefore considered - wrongly - as the initiator of the revolt.

• ''He has allowed himself to be pushed into extreme courses against his better judgment. And, as I have repeated on several occasions, he is afraid of being left alone in the dark. On the other hand, like almost every Arab in Palestine, he is at heart an Arab nationalist and a strong and implacable anti-Zionist" General Wauchope

• There were two opposing groupings following into 1936; the ideological and the personal and family differences

• In each of these opposing groupings, the real opposition was between the Husseinites and the Istiqlallsts.

• This is not to say that the traditional real hatred between the Hussein's and Nashabishis diminished in any way, and indeed it soon re-asserted itself stronger than ever.

• The field of battle between the Husseini's and the Istiqlal centred V around the question as to which would have the support of the-'Youth and students, amongst whom political feeling was becoming more and more strong.

• "Liberty Is my right, Independence my aim (my hope- amali). Arabista my principle, Palestine my country and mine only. This I attest and God is my witness to my loyalty".

• Under pressure of the young men, it was resolved to form the Supreme Committee and cease all party activities.

• Both the Mufti, who did not relish the idea of coming to a direct confrontation with the H.C., and R. Nashabishi who was not happy to "serve" 44 under his rival the Mufti, were reluctant to join' the Committee but they had no chance of withstanding the popular wave of enthusiasm for "a united national action led by a united body".

• Indeed, it could be stated here that the Mufti and the Supreme Committed did very little leading, and in fact were dragged most of the way.

• Religious aspect

• The events of November last, when the late Sheikh Izzal Din al Kassam took to arms and the field, were V given the cloak of religion; his action has been glorified by certain sections, and he and his followers regarded as 'martyrs'.