The Emergence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The Role of Hussein at the End of British Mandate in Transjordan
Jan 11, 2009
Following the end of World War One and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire the occupying powers chose, in order to further their own political ambitions, to re-draw the borders within the Middle East.
British Mandate
The newly founded League of Nations subsequently assigned a Mandate to Great Britain to govern what was then known as Palestine and Transjordan, an area which is today covered by Israel, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, part of the Golan Heights and the Kingdom of Jordan. To France went the Mandate to govern in the Lebanon and Syria.
In 1946 the British Mandate over Transjordan ended and Jordan, a name adopted in 1950, still financially reliant on Britain became an independent nation.
Formation of the State of Israel
In 1948 the end of the British Mandate of Palestine and the foundation of the state of Israel had again radically changed the dynamics of the region both politically and geographically.
Into this cauldron, with its big power rivalries and bitter regional disputes, stepped a remarkably man, who over the next 47 years would steer his country through the worst of times.
Hussein bin Talal has been described in many ways but “pragmatic” (CIA World Factbook) is perhaps about right. His enemies, and there were many, were less gracious.
Following the assassination of his much-loved grandfather and the short reign of his father, Hussein became monarch of the small, mainly desert kingdom in 1952 (took full constitutional power 2 May 1953).
For the young king there was no settling in or honeymoon period he was immediately thrust into the volatile and dangerous world of Middle Eastern politics.
His first instructions to his newly appointed Prime Minister Fowzi al-Mulqi were to introduce a series of reforms allowing freedom of speech and more freedom for the press.
Laudable yet naive in the prevailing political climate was the reaction of some Middle East watchers. A contemporary Jordanian Government website says that: “Radical groups exploited the reforms and relentlessly attacked the regime…”
Rise of Nasser and Arab Nationalism
The 1950’s saw the rise Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser and Arab nationalism, Hussein’s biographer Avi Shlaim wrote: “Jordan was placed in the position of the conspirator or the betrayer, and this was the thrust of the perpetual threat of the Egyptian propaganda machine.” Nasser’s supporters brought more violent demonstrations to the streets of Jordanian cities.
Hussein’s overriding worry was the defence of his country’s long border with Israel but he also had to stop Palestinian raids being launched against Israel from Jordanian territory, for the reprisals were severe.
The Jordanian army (Arab Legion) was led by a British officer, John Bagot Glubb who passionately defended the army’s efforts to curb infiltration into Israel but the Israeli response was to blame Jordan for aiding and abetting border incursions This was strenuously denied by Glubb and Hussein.
Avi Shlaim cites Jordanian military documents captured by the Israelis during the 1967 war, which revealed that: “Glubb’s version of Jordanian policy was correct and that the Israeli version was utterly false.”
The second half of the 1950’s was even more difficult for Hussein. In 1956 external and internal demands for Glubb’s removal increased forcing Hussein to sack him. The following year the Anglo-Jordanian Treaty was terminated ending British economic and military assistance.
Into this gap stepped the Americans anxious that Jordan should survive as a moderate player in the region.
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis in 1956 brought further upheavals for Hussein. The majority of Jordanians saw Nasser almost in God like terms and demanded that the king support him in his struggle against Britain, France and Israel. But Hussein was well aware of the consequences of armed conflict against Israel.
In the final years of the decade Hussein imposed martial law, removed press freedom and free speech and concentrated power in his own hands.
He saw these radical political changes as a matter of survival not only for the Hashemite dynasty but also for his country of Jordan.
Sources:
Avi Shlaim, Lion of Jordan
CIA World Factbook
BBC
 |
