Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TROUBLES WITH PALESTINE (1946-94)
If there is one element that defines the modern history of Jordan, it's the relationship with
the peoples on the other side of the river - not just the Jews but also (and perhaps more es-
pecially) the Palestinians, who today make up the majority of the population of Jordan.
Much of the conflict stems from the creation of a Jewish national homeland in Palestine,
where Arab Muslims accounted for about 90% of the population. Their resentment was un-
derstood by Arabs across the region and informed the dialogue of Arab-Israeli relations for
the rest of the 20th century.
New Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
In 1948 resentment escalated into conflict between Arab and Is-
raeli forces, with the result that Jordan won control of East Jeru-
salem and the West Bank. King Abdullah, reneging on assur-
ances regarding Palestinian independence, annexed the territory
and proclaimed the new Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (HKJ).
The new state won immediate recognition from Britain and the
USA, but regional powers disapproved of the annexation, added
to which the unprecedented immigration of Palestinian refugees
placed a strain on limited domestic resources.
In July 1951 King Abdullah was assassinated outside Al-
Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The throne eventually passed to his
beloved 17-year-old grandson, Hussein, in May 1953. Hussein offered a form of citizenship
to all Palestinian Arab refugees in 1960, but refused to relinquish Palestinian territory.
Partly in response, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) was formed in 1964.
Modern His-
tory of Jordan
»
»
A History of Jordan
(Philip
Robbins, 2004) Covers the
1920s to the present day.
»
»
The Modern History of
Jordan
(Kamal Salibi, 1998)
Gives an Arab perspective.
KING HUSSEIN
Since his death, King Hussein has become a legend. On succeeding to the throne on 2 May 1953 at the age of 17, the
youthful, British-educated Hussein was known more for his love of pretty women and fast cars. Forty-five years later
he was fêted as one of the Middle East's great political survivors, king against the odds and the de facto creator of the
modern state of Jordan.
King Hussein's loyalty to his people was notable. In a role emulated by his son decades later, Hussein would dis-
guise himself as a taxi driver and ask passengers what they thought of the king.
