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Haj Amin Al Hussaini: The Founder of the Palestinian National Movement

George Martin

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Published in The Grand Mufti: Haj Amin Al Hussaini Founder Of The Palestinian National Movement

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Haj Amin Al Hussaini was a Palestinian Arab nationalist and religious leader who played a key role in the development of the Palestinian national movement. He was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem from 1921 to 1936 and was a leading figure in the 1936-1939 Arab revolt in Palestine.

Hussaini was born in Jerusalem in 1895. He studied at Al-Azhar University in Cairo and returned to Palestine in 1914. He quickly became involved in politics and was elected to the Ottoman parliament in 1918. After the First World War, Hussaini became a leading figure in the Palestinian nationalist movement. He was a member of the Palestinian delegation to the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 and was a founder of the Palestine Arab Congress in 1920.

The Grand Mufti: Haj Amin al-Hussaini, Founder of the Palestinian National Movement

by Z Elpeleg

4 out of 5

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In 1921, Hussaini was elected Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. As Grand Mufti, he became the religious leader of the Palestinian Muslims and was a powerful voice in Palestinian politics. He used his position to promote Palestinian nationalism and to oppose British rule in Palestine.

In 1936, Hussaini was a leading figure in the Arab revolt in Palestine. The revolt was a response to British policies in Palestine, including the Balfour Declaration and the White Paper of 1939. The revolt lasted for three years and resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.

After the revolt, Hussaini was exiled from Palestine by the British. He went to live in Iraq, where he continued to be a leading figure in the Palestinian nationalist movement. He returned to Palestine in 1948 after the establishment of the State of Israel.

Hussaini died in Beirut in 1974. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of the Palestinian national movement.

Legacy

Hussaini's legacy is complex and controversial. He is revered by many Palestinians as a national hero, but he is also criticized for his role in the 1936-1939 Arab revolt and for his support of the Nazi regime during the Second World War.

Hussaini's supporters argue that he was a courageous leader who fought for the rights of the Palestinian people. They point to his role in the 1936-1939 Arab revolt and his opposition to the Balfour Declaration and the White Paper of 1939.

Hussaini's critics argue that he was a violent extremist who incited violence against Jews. They point to his role in the 1936-1939 Arab revolt and his support of the Nazi regime during the Second World War.

Hussaini's legacy is likely to continue to be debated for many years to come.

References

Allawi, A. (2014). Faisal I of Iraq. Yale University Press.
Gelvin, J. L. (2006). The Israel-Palestine conflict: One hundred years of war. Cambridge University Press.
Hurewitz, J. C. (1979). The Middle East and North Africa in world politics: A documentary record. Yale University Press.
Khalidi, R. (2010). The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Metropolitan Books.
Morris, B. (2008). 1948: A history of the first Arab-Israeli war. Yale University Press.
Shlaim, A. (2007). Lion of Jordan: The life of King Hussein in war and peace. Allen Lane.

The Grand Mufti: Haj Amin al-Hussaini, Founder of the Palestinian National Movement

by Z Elpeleg

4 out of 5