Figure 1.--Jordan seized the West Bank during the First IUdreali War (1948-49). The population of the West Bank and refugees from other areas of Palestine meant that Jordan had a Paistinian majority. After the Isrealis seized the West Bank in the Six Days war, Fatah moved to overthrow King Hussein and seize control of Jordan. The ensuing fighting is known as Black September. The caption of this press photo reads, "Jordanian war victim: A three-year-old Arab boy, one of the only two Jordanian war victims allowed into Isreali territory for treatment, is carried across the Allenby Bridge Monday. Jordanian authorities refused permission for other Arab wounded tomake the crossing from the Isreali held east babk of the Jordan River to Israel." The photograph was dated September29, 1970.

After World War II, the British granted full independence to Jordan (1946). Abdullah was declared king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. While the country was not yet called Jordan, the independence of the country dates from this time. The United Nations partitioned Palestine ad after Israel declared its indeopenence, tghe nbeighboring Arab countries invaded. Jordan played a major role in the First Arab-Isreali War (1948). The British trained Arab Legion, although small, proved to be the most effective Arab force, seizing much of Jerusalem and the West Bank. Even though Jordan obstensibly invaded Palestine to protect Palistinian Arabs, Jordan after the War annexed the Palestinian West Bank. This brought many Palistinians into the kingdom. The King contended that the West Bank was included in the area that had been promised to Sharif Hussein. General elections were held in the East and West banks, An act of union joined Jordanian-occupied Palestine and the Kingdom of Trans-Jordan to form the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (April 24, 1950). Some Arabs criticized the action as showing inordinate Hashemite ambitions. About halkf of the 1 million Palestinian refugees fled to Jordan. They were taken in by UN-administered camps. Another 0.5 million non-refugee Palestinians settled in Jordan. This meant that Jordan now had a Palestinian majority. The monarchy and elites loyal to the throne continued to control the country. Many Palestinians resented Abdullah's seizure of the West Bnak. He was also not seen as sufficiently militant toward Israel. The King was assasinated by a Palestinian (July 20, 1951). He was suceeded by his eldest son, Talal. The mentally unstable Talal, however, was incapable of actualy ruling. As a result, Talal's young son Hussein who had witnessed the assasination of his grahdfather became king. After a brief of regency, when he reached 18 years of age he was formally enthroned (May 2, 1953). King Hussein was able to lead the country for more than 50 years through very difficult times. Jordan was beset not only with economic problems faced by many new nations at the time, but with internal security and Arab-Israeli tensions but also with difficulties stemming from its relations with the Western powers and the Arab world. The Egyptian military overthrew King Faruk (1952) Col. Nasser emerged as Egypt's new ruler. He began a policy of Arab socialism and actively supported disident groups in the Arab monarchies. The Arabs could agree on a joint effort to destroy Israel. The Arab Legion became the regular Jordanian Army (1956), althgough at first called the Arab Army. Legion was used informally by the men for years. After joining Egypt and Syria in the Six Days War (1966) against Israel (1966), Jordan lost the West Bank and most of its Palestinian population. The Palestinians attempted to overhrow the monarch and seize control in what became known as Black September (1970).

Independence (1946)

After World War II, the British granted full independence to Jordan (1946). Abdullah was declared king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. While the country was not yet called Jordan, the independence of the country dates from this time.

First Arab-Isreali War (1948-49)

The United Nations partitioned Palestine and after Israel declared its indepenence, the Palestinians intensified attacks on Jews and neighboring Arab countries invaded. Jordan played a major role in the First Arab-Isreali War (1948). The British trained Arab Legion, although small, proved to be the most effective Arab force, seizing much of Jerusalem and the West Bank. The world and the Arabs innparticulkr were shocked when the Isrealis managed to effectively resist. The War was fought to a slalemate with thecIde=raelis holding on to more land than they had begun with the U,N, partition, including a large part of Jerusalem. Most Arabs coukd not understabd how the well-armed natioinal rmies performed o poorly against the poorly armed Israelis.

East Jerusalem and West Bank Annexation

The small British trained and led Arab Legion enabled Jordan to seize East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the first Arab-Isreali War (1948-49). Even though Jordan obstensibly invaded Palestine to protect Palistinian Arabs, King Abdullah after the War did not promote an independent Palistinian state, but instead annexed the Palestinian West Bank. This brought many Palistinians into the kingdom. The King contended that the West Bank was included in the area that had been promised to Sharif Hussein. General elections were held in the East and West banks, An act of union joined Jordanian-occupied Palestine and the Kingdom of Trans-Jordan to form the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (April 24, 1950). Some Arab and other countries criticized the action as showing inordinate Hashemite ambitions. About half of the 1 million Palestinian refugees fled to Jordan. They were taken in by UN-administered camps. Another 0.5 million non-refugee Palestinians settled in Jordan. This meant that Jordan now had a half Palestinian/half Jordanian population. (This is a complicated dichotomy because the First Partition, Jordan and what campe to be called Palestine were ll part of Ottomon Palestine seized by the British during Wirlsd War I.) The Palestinians may have even been a majority. The monarchy and elites loyal to the throne, however, continued to control the country. One of the issues that emerged after the War was access to holy sites.

Assasination of King Abdullah (July 1951)

Many Palestinians resented Abdullah's seizure of the West Bank. He was also not seen as sufficiently militant toward Israel. The King was assasinated by a Palestinian (July 20, 1951). The King's Arab Legion was relatively small, it had been one of the most effecrive Arab fighting forces in the First Arab-Isreali War and managed to seize East Jerusalem. Even so King Abdullah came to question the possibility of a military sollution to the conflict. As a front-line country and a long border with Israel, the King had to face the practical consequences of a prolonged, active war with Israel. This of course is what the Palistinians wanted, regardless of the consequences. Rumors began circulation in Jordan that both Jordan and Lebanon were discussing the negotiation of a joint separate peace with Israel. This caused a sharp reaction in the Palistinian community. A Palestinian activist only 4 days earlier assasinated Riad Bey Al Solh, a former Prime Minister of Lebanon, in Amman (July 16). King Abdullah went to Jordanian occupied East Jerusalem to deliver an eulogy at a funeral. He also planned to meet with Reuven Shiloah (the first Director of the Mossad) and Moshe Sasson (another Israeli). [Shlaim, p. 46] The Palistinian assassin was a 21-year-old tailor's apprentice, Mustafa Ash. The King was shot while attending Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. His grandson Prince Hussein was at his side.

King Hussein

King Abdullah's grandson, Prince Hussein, was at his side when the King was assasinated. He was alo shot. Apprentkly a medal that the King insusted be pinned in his chest, saved the boy. It deflected the bullet and saved his life. After a brief of regency, when he reached 18 years of age he was formally enthroned (May 2, 1953). King Hussein was able to lead the country for more than 50 years through very difficult times. The assasination of his grandfather had a powerful influence on King Hussein. It affected how he viewed the Palesistinians. It also affected his willingness to participate in peace talks with Israel after the Six-Day War. [Bickerton, p. 161.]

Developments in the Arab World

Jordan was beset not only with economic problems faced by many new nations at the time, but with internal security and Arab-Israeli tensions but also with difficulties stemming from its relations with the Western powers and the Arab world. The Young Officers in Egypt overthrew King Faruk (July 1952). Col. Nasser emerged as Egypt's new ruler. He began a policy of Arab socialism and actively supported disident groups in the Arab monarchies. The developmenhts in Egypt was an important development because Egypt as a result of its large population and level of development was the leading Arab nation. And Nasser proved to be a chsaramatic leader who proved to have enormous appeal thriughout the Arab workd. Arab countries at the time, including Egypt, were strongly influenced by 'Arab socialism' and aspirations for the creation of a single, united Arab nation. This put tiny Jordan in the crosshairs of both the Arab socialists and the Palestinians. Arab unity was seen as an important goal as well as needed to defeat Israel. This increased pressure con the young King. One diffiult issue cwas ties with Britain which most Arabs saw as an unfriendly colonial power. The British were a longtime supporter of the Kingdom. The British and French invadion of Egypt in cooperation with Israel leading to the Suez Crisus confirmed the hostile attitude cof many Arabs toward Britain (October 1956). This jade it impossiblke for King Hyssein to maintain the relationship with Britain. As a result, negotiations commenced to end the security treaty with Britain. this also meant ending the substabtial British military subsidy. ritain withdrew its troops from Jordan. The Arab Legion remained loyal to the king. The King's psitin was also supported by the United States and Sa'udi Arabia which made it clear that they would intervene if Syria backed by Egypt attempted to occupy the country. The United Arab Republic was formed by the by the union of Egypt and Syria which was intended to be the beginning of a vast, united Arab nation. This was followed by the assassination of King Hussein's cousin, King Faisal II as part of a coup in neighboring Iraq (JUly 1958). King Hussein looked to thecWest for support against the new threat. The British flew in troops from Cyprus.

The Arab Legion/Jordanian Zrmy

The Arab Legion became the regular Jordanian Army (1956), althgough at first called the Arab Army. Legion was used informally by the men for years. After joining Egypt and Syria in the Six Days War (1966) against Israel (1966), Jordan lost the West Bank and most of its Palestinian population.

Six Days War (June 1967)

The Six Days War changed the dynamic of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The United Nations for 8 years patrolled the Isreali-Egyption border in the Siani. Nasser backed with an infusion of Soviet weapons decided to confront Israel militarily. Nasser otganized an alliance with Syria and Jordan. He moved 100,000 troops to the border armed with 1,000 tanks. He ordered the United Nations out. An audacious Isreali air attack destroyed the Egyptian Air Force on the ground. Egyptian Air Force commanders were at first afraid to tell Nassar wjat had happened. Radio Cairo claimed that the Isreali Air Firce had been destroyed. The Arab public was estatic. Nassar urged the Syrians and Jordanians to joun the war with Isreal. He assured them that Egypt was winning the war in the Siamai. Israli armor desimated the Egyptians and pushed to Suez. The Isrealis then turned on the Jordanians and Syrians that had invaded. The Isrealis managed to seize the rest of Jeruselum.

Black September (September 1970)

Jordan suffered heavy casualties in the Six Days war (21967). After the Isrealis seized the West Bank, therec was a large-scale exodus of Palestinians. An estimated 0.3 millionm Palestinians chose to cross the Jordan River to the East Bank meaning Jordanian territory. This added to the Palistianians already living in Jordan, swelling the refugee total to about 0.7 million Palistinians. This added to economic disruption Jordan faced from the War itself. Palistinian groups iun Jordan attempted to continue fightibg by staging terror raids cinto Israel from bases they established in Jordan. The King attempted to supress armed Palistinian groups which bhad been staging raids into Israel and thus brought about retaitory Israel strikes. King Hussein's accepted a a cease-fire with Israel (August 1970). This enfuriated the Palistinians who wanted war not peace with Israel. Fatah moved to overthrow King Hussein who they saw as too moderate and seize control of Jordan, the country which had harbored them. The ensuing fighting is known as Black September (September 1970). The King declared mrtial law (September 1). King Hussein of Jordan moved to restore his rule over the country. The Palistiniasns then attacked the Jordanian Army in an effort to unseat the King. A bitterly fought 10-day struggle ensued. Syria attempted to intervene to support the Palistinians, but were blocked by the Israelis. Thousands of people were killed in the resulting fighting, modstly Palistinians. Fighting continued at a reducedclevel foir months (until July 1971). The Jirdanianhs finally suceeded in expelling the PLO and thousands oftheur fighters. Lebanon agreed to givecthem refuge. An observer in Israel tells us that he watched the Jordanian/PLO war from the Golan heights. Many nights the skies were lit up like the 4th of July. He claims that Jordan could have wiped out the PLO at that time, but allowed them to escape into Lebanon.The fighting was finally ended throught mediation by other Arab governments. The King was forced to ubsequently ordered a final offensive against Palestinian fighters remining in Jordan (July 1971). Palistinian commandos assasinated Premier Wasfi al-Tal (September 1971). Further Palistinian coup attempts, nelieved to have been aided by Qadafi in Libya, were thwarted by Jordanian security foirces (November 1972 and February 1973).

Sources

Bickerton, Ian J. and Carla L. Klausner. A Concise History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. 4th ed. (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2002).

Shlaim, Avi. Lion of Jordan: The life of King Hussein in War and Peace (2007).

Created: 4:04 AM 5/4/2012
Last updated: 10:31 AM 8/15/2017