Study Notes on The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Unit Three: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (First, Second, and Third Phases)
Independence and Unity
The Independence of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Historical Context: Jordan was under British Mandate before gaining independence.
Prince Abdullah’s Visit: Prince Abdullah bin Al-Hussein visited Britain in late 1922, negotiating for a unified Arab state.
Outcome of Negotiations: Resulted in the establishment of an independent government in Transjordan under his leadership, marked by the "Declaration of Administrative Independence of the Emirate".
Goals of Prince Abdullah: Sought a formal agreement with Britain to define Transjordan’s borders, counter Zionist ambitions, and prevent the implications of the Balfour Declaration on Transjordan.
Challenges: Herbert Samuel’s influence on British policy prolonged negotiations. There was a significant imbalance of power favoring Britain against the emerging Arab Emirate.
Jordanian Response: Continued struggle against the British agreement led to a national movement and a series of Jordanian National Conferences from 1928 to 1933, which advocated for independence, resistance to Zionism, and prevention of Jewish immigration.
Key Amendments: Achieved during Abdullah's visit to London in 1934, ultimately leading to the annulment of the 1928 treaty.
Treaty of Independence: Signed on March 22, 1946, with critical terms:
Britain recognized Transjordan as a sovereign state.
Strategic alliance established between Jordan and Britain.
Commitment to consult on foreign policy matters.
Exchange of diplomatic ambassadors.
Jordan granted full responsibility for internal security and border defense.
UN Recognition: The UN approved the termination of the British mandate and recognized Jordan's independence, declaring May 25 as Independence Day. Jordan joined the United Nations on December 14, 1955.
Jordanian-British Treaty of 1948: Established terms amidst the looming Arab-Israeli War:
Permanent peace and friendship between Jordan and Britain.
Full consultations in case of conflict with a third state.
Mutual defense principle established for warfare situations.
Treaty would last 25 years.
Public Opposition: Strong national sentiment against the treaty reflects ongoing struggles for full independence.
The 1948 War, the Palestinian Nakba, and Jordan’s Role in the Conflict
Context of the Conflict
UN Resolution 181: On November 29, 1947, the proposed partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states was rejected by the Arab world, leading to military recommendations by the Arab League.
Military Preparations: The Arab League aimed to arm Arab populations and mobilize troops from multiple nations to support Palestine.
British Withdrawal: Announcement from Britain to terminate the mandate over Palestine initiated military actions from both sides.
War Timeline: On May 14, 1948, Israel was declared, triggering Arab military responses on May 15.
Jordanian Involvement
Jordanian Arab Army: Approximately 22,000 Jordanian troops entered Palestine in a military campaign amid significant Zionist opposition.
Initial Gains and Challenges: The Arab advance initially made gains but faced significant disorganization and equipment challenges against Israeli forces, which numbered around 65,000.
Key Locations: Notable battles occurred around significant cities like Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Haifa, where the Jordanian army successfully defended parts of the territory.
Leadership Identification: Key commanders emerged during battles, including Princes Nayef and Talal, and officers like Abdullah Al-Tell and Habis Al-Majali.
Outcomes: Jordan succeeded in retaining control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem despite challenging conditions.
Ceasefire and Consequences: A ceasefire was declared on June 8, 1948, benefiting Israeli forces in reorganizing while Arab armies faced dwindling support.
Outcomes of the 1948 War
Establishment of the State of Israel controlling about 78% of historic Palestine.
Increased political support from world powers for Zionism.
Revealed weaknesses within Arab states politically and militarily.
Heightened political turmoil across Arab nations post-war.
Jordan faced a lengthy border connection with Israel.
Unification of the East and West Banks – 1950
Divided Palestinian Leadership: Post-war differences on the unity with Jordan resulted in two factions: one favoring union with Jordan and another advocating for an independent Palestinian state.
Support for Unification: The First Arab-Palestinian Conference held in Amman led to key resolutions supporting King Abdullah’s leadership over Palestinian matters.
Second Arab-Palestinian Conference: Convened later, affirming allegiance to King Abdullah as king of both Jordan and Palestine, amidst opposition from some Arab states.
Union Formation: The first Jordanian government post-unification included various Palestinian figures and was later ratified by the National Assembly on April 24, 1950.
Opposition from Arab States: Countries including Egypt opposed this union, leading to tensions that questioned its legitimacy.
The Second Kingdom and the Reign of King Talal bin Abdullah (1950–1951)
Transition of Leadership: Following King Abdullah's assassination, Crow Prince Talal assumed power on September 6, 1951.
Popularity: King Talal was well-regarded, especially among the military.
Royal Decree: Appointed Prince Hussein as Crown Prince shortly after taking the throne.
Constitutional Reforms: Significant transformations included the promulgation of a new Constitution reflecting Jordan’s status and safeguarding citizen rights, and establishing a parliamentary system.
The Third Kingdom: Resilience and Nation-Building 1952–1999
The Reign of King Hussein bin Talal (1952–1999)
Challenges: King Hussein inherited a nation amid crises including Israeli aggressions and regional conflicts, leading to military preparations and defense strategies, such as the establishment of the National Guard.
Diplomatic Relations: In an effort to balance regional tensions, Hussein pursued cooperative international relations, marking Jordan's admission to the United Nations in 1955.
Arabization of the Command of the Jordanian Arab Army – 1956
Key Decision: March 1, 1956, marked the dismissal of British officers, representing a major move towards national sovereignty and self-governance.
Impact: This increased Jordan’s regional influence and was met with support from various Arab nations.
Parliamentary Developments and Political Challenges 1956 - 1957
Elections: Parliamentary elections succeeded in 1956, but political partnership faced challenges owing to domestic/outside pressures.
Termination of the Anglo-Jordanian Treaty: The parliamentary call to nullify the treaty directly followed the Tripartite Aggression against Egypt.
The Arab Hashemite Union Between Jordan and Iraq – 1958
Brief Coalition: Formed to pursue Arab unity, but disbanded following a coup in Iraq.
The 1967 Arab-Israeli War
War Background: Relational tensions, including incidents in Samu‘ and the Yemen Civil War, escalated into regional conflict.
Impact on Jordan: Significant military losses and territorial changes arose from the conflict, including vast human casualties and refugee crises.
The Battle of Karameh – March 21, 1968
Jordan's Strategic Counter: The Jordanian army, alongside Palestinian resistance, effectively countered Israeli attacks.
Resilience Established: This battle marked a pivotal shift in the perception of the Israeli military's invincibility.
United Arab Kingdom Proposal (1972)
Political Vision: King Hussein proposed a redefined relationship with Palestinians by establishing a federal kingdom structure; the proposal faced rejection from the PLO.
The October War of 1973
Jordanian Support: Jordan supported Arab efforts without directly opening a front against Israel, emphasizing diplomatic ties and military readiness.
1988 Disengagement from the West Bank
Legal and Administrative Decoupling: Response to Palestinian requests and PLO recognition led to Jordan officially severing ties with the West Bank, a historic political pivot.
The Development of Jordanian Administration and Institution Building
Reign of King Hussein (1953–1999)
Progressive State Building: Focus on administrative, security, and service structure enhancements; economic shifts towards modernization.
Strategic Institution Formation: Key institutions like the Agricultural Credit Corporation, and international communication corp were established.
Public Services and Infrastructure Growth
Education
Expansion of Access: Education transitioned to a universal right with compulsory schooling laws, with significant drops in illiteracy rates and increase in educational staff.
Healthcare
Healthcare Infrastructure Growth: Access to healthcare expanded dramatically, enhancing overall public health outcomes and child mortality rates significantly decreased.
Summary of Jordanian Achievements
Holistic Development: Comprehensive advancements in education, infrastructure, and governance emphasized Jordan's resilience and capacity building.
Discussion Topics
Preservation of independence as a national duty.
The significance of unification between East and West Bank.
Analyzing King Hussein's constitutional achievements and administrative developments, public services under his reign.
Jordan’s role in regional geopolitics and the Palestinian cause.