Raghib al-Nashashibi (1881–1951) was a wealthy landowner and public figure during the Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

, the British Mandate and the Jordanian administration

Transjordan

The Emirate of Transjordan was a former Ottoman territory in the Southern Levant that was part of the British Mandate of Palestine...

. He was mayor of Jerusalem in 1920–1934.

Background

Nashashibi graduated from Istanbul University

Istanbul University

Istanbul University is a Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square.- Synopsis :A madrasa, a religious school, was established sometime in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. An institution of higher education named the...

 and became Jerusalem's District Engineer. The Nashashibi

Nashashibi

Nashashibi is the name of a prominent Palestinian family based in Jerusalem. Many of its members held senior positions in the government of Jerusalem. Raghib al-Nashashibi was Mayor of Jerusalem .- History :...

s were one of the oldest and most influential Jerusalem families, and historical rivals of the Husayni family.

Political career

Nashashibi succeeded Musa Kazim al-Husayni as mayor of Jerusalem in 1920. He was a leading opponent of the Husayni family in Palestine. In 1937 he secretly favoured union with Transjordan

Transjordan

The Emirate of Transjordan was a former Ottoman territory in the Southern Levant that was part of the British Mandate of Palestine...

. Nashashibi was a founding member of the Arab Higher Committee

Arab Higher Committee

The Arab Higher Committee was the central political organ of the Arab community of Mandate Palestine. It was established on 25 April 1936, on the initiative of Hajj Amin al-Husayni, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, and comprised the leaders of Palestinian Arab clans under the mufti's...

 and a leader of the National Defence Party.

In August 1949 he was appointed head of the new Jordan

Jordan

Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...

ian ministry for refugees and rehabilitation and was appointed first Governor-General for Arab Palestine in September of that same year. In 1950 he became Jordanian Minister of Agriculture and later Minister of Transport. He was also appointed as custodian of the Holy Places of Jerusalem with cabinet rank.