JEWISH-TRANSJORDANIAN RELATIONS 1921-48 This page intentionally left blank JEWISH-TRANSJORDANIAN RELATIONS 1921-48 YOAV GELBER University ofH aifa ~ ~~o~;~;n~~~up LONDON AND NEW YORK Firs/ publishd in /1)1)7 bv FRANK CASS & CO. LTD. This edition published 20 13 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business Copyright © 1997 Yoav Gelber British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Gelber, Yoav Jewish-Transjordanian relations, 1921-48 1. Zionism 2. Jews-Politics and government 3. Israel Foreign relations-Jordan 4. Jordan-Foreign relations Israel I. Tide 327.5'694'05695 ISBN 0-7146-4675-X (cloth) ISBN 0-7146-4206-1 (paper) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gelber, Yoav. Jewish-Transjordanian relations, 1921-48 I Yo'av Gelber. p. em. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-7146-4675-X (cloth).-ISBN 0-7146-4206-1 (pbk.) 1. Jewish-Arab relations,-1917-1949. 2. Transjordan-Politics and government. 3. Palestine-Politics and government,-1917-1948. I. Tide. DS119.7.G389 1996 956.94'04-dc20 96-27429 CIP All rights reseroed. No part of this publication mt{V be reproduced in any fonn, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior penn iss ion oft he publisher. Typeset by Vitaset, Paddock Wood, Kent Contents Acknowledgements Vll Abbreviations ix Introduction 1 1 Early Zionist interest in TransJordan 7 I 2 The turning point of the 1929 1disturbances 23 I 3 Business and politics 37 4 Abdullah's plan for 'Greater Syria' 59 5 The Arab revolt 83 6 The Royal Commission and the partition plan 105 7 The revolt's second phase 125 8 In the shadow of war 145 9 Abdullah's intrigues in Syria 165 10 Between union and partition 179 11 The agreement 195 12 Second thoughts 217 13 Partners or enemies? 241 14 The Jews' ally or the Palestinians' saviour? 265 Epilogue 287 Glossary 291 Sources and bibliography 307 Index 315 This page intentionally left blank Acknowledgements This book was written during the Gulf War as occupational therapy for a paratroop officer who, after fighting in four wars, had to spend the fifth one frustrated in a sealed room at home with his family. The patience, consideration and encouragement of my wife, Ruthi, and my children were a most essential prerequisite for the accomplishment of this undertaking under the unusual circumstances. I am also indebted to my three colleagues at the University of Haifa who helped me to complete the task when the war was over and university life resumed. Dr Judith Baumel reviewed the manuscript to correct linguistic and stylistic errors; Dr YosefNevo read the manuscript and enlightened me with several useful comments and Dr Ilan Pappe did the same and also helped me with the English-Arabic transliteration. Finally, I would like to thank the team of Frank Cass & Co. Ltd for their efficient co-operation and their endeavours in producing this book. In the long span between writing and publication, highly significant developments have taken place in Jewish-Jordanian relations which could hardly be predicted when the book was written. May the deeper perspective provided by historical study fortify the peace, so long hoped for but only recendy achieved. Yoav Gelber This page intentionally left blank Abbreviations AHC Arab Higher Committee AIR Air Ministry ALA Arab Liberation Army AOC Air Officer Commanding APC Anglo-Palestine Corporation BGA Ben-Gurion's Archives BMEO British Middle East Office CAB Cabinet Papers CID Criminal Investigation Department CIGS Chief oflmperial General Staff Cmd Command Paper co Colonial Office CZA Central Zionist Archives DMI Director of Military Intelligence DMO Director of Military Operations DNB Deutsche Nachrichten Biiro (German Press Agency) DSO Defense Security Office FO Foreign Office FRUS Foreign Relations oft he United States GHQ General Headquarters GOC General Officer Commanding HA Haganah Archives HMG His Majesty's Government