The UK Recognized the Jordanian Annexation of the West Bank Before it Recognized “Palestine”

glubb

Considering the UK parliament’s unilateral little recognition of “Palestine” which consists of two quarreling micro welfare states subsidized by the international community, neither of whom are willing to hold an election, but both of whom are eager to engage in terrorism, it’s time for a brief stroll down memory lane.

In 1950, the UK became the only European country to recognize the Jordanian annexation of the West Bank.

The Minister of State (Mr. Younger) His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have been officially informed by the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan of the union of the Kingdom of Jordan and of that part of Palestine under Jordan occupation and control. The Jordan Government, in this communication, have stated that an Act providing for this union was unanimously adopted on 24th April by the Jordan Assembly, which is composed of representatives of both these territories, and received the Royal Assent on the same day. His Majesty’s Government have decided to accord formal recognition to this union. They take this opportunity of declaring that they regard the provisions of the Anglo-Jordan Treaty of Alliance of 1948 as applicable to all the territory included in the union.

A caveat was introduced regarding Jerusalem, but Jordan was still recognized as de facto authority and the treaty applied there as well.

Why did the UK take such a drastic step? Because in fact it was the UK that had arranged for the seizure. British officers led the Arab forces that captured part of Jerusalem. Jordan at the time functioned essentially as a British puppet government the way that most of the “kingdoms” were supposed to function, at least until they were overthrown.

Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin told Commons today that British officers serving with the Arab Lesion in the Palestine war would be withdrawn only if Britain’s fulfillment of treaty obligations with Transjordan became inconsistent with its obligations to the United Nations.

Replying to a question by Sidney Silverman, M.P., whether “it is fitting that a force paid for by British money and wearing uniforms and carrying equipment provided by us should be engaged in shelling the Holy Places,” Bevin said: “The British will do what they can conceive to be right and will report to this House.” The Foreign Minister remarked that one of the difficulties in Jerusalem was “the breaking of the truce by the Jews.”

Bevin would eventually deny that General Glubb and Brigadier Lash were leading the Arab Legion. Though it was kind of hard to deny.

Meanwhile, the Arab Legion commander here, British Brigadier Norman Lash, has threatened to open fire with heavy artillery on Jewish convoys entering Jerusalem via the new route. If the Jews use this route, completely within Jewish hands, they are legally not required to limit the food stocks they bring into Jerusalem, since only food in convoys brought in by the Bed Cross over Arab-controlled roads, will be doled out under the terms of Bernadotte’s cease-fire plan.

Jerusalem inhabitants today paraded though peaceful streets dressed in their holiday clothes in honor of the Shevuoth holiday. Their cheerful mood was heightened by the knowledge that the Israeli army had finally succeeded in breaking the food blockade.

Really gives BDS a whole new meaning.

A few minutes later, Colonel Bill Newman, the Australian commander of the Legion’s Third Regiment and Major Bob Slade, his Scottish deputy, assembled their Arab officers outside Kalandia. Spreading his maps, Newman stabbed his finger at Jerusalem. “That’s where we’re going,” he said.

An explosion of joy and shrieks of delight drowned his words.

Other officers included Colonel Desmond Goldie, Lt. Colonel H.C. Blackden, Brigadier Arthur Cooke, Major James Hawkin, Colonel Teel Ashton and a handful of Arab officers.

And this is how it ended at the time with Jewish refugees fleeing for their lives until the Israeli liberation of Jerusalem in the Six Day War.

Jew-Families Flee  to Zion Gate 6-1948[4]

  • RAM500

    The original creation of Transjordan itself, on land taken from Mandate Palestine, was another British project. By this, Jews were effectively excluded from a large chunk of their “National Home”.

  • Bamaguje

    Wow!!
    Let me get this straight, British officers led Arab troops to destroy Israel.
    So Britain’s anti-Israel perfidy in Palestine wasn’t just giving out to Arabs (now Jordan) most of mandated Palestine that was intended for a Jewish nation as per Sam Remo conference.
    It wasn’t just blocking Jewish migration to Palestine even as Hitler slaughtered them in Europe. Britain actually fought along side Arabs to destroy the nascent Jewish nation.

    What more, Britain then recognized Jordan’s invasion and occupation of Judea, Samaria & East Jerusalem, which was followed by expulsion of Jews from their ancestral homeland on which they had lived continuously for over 3000 years.

    As far as Britain is concerned Jordanian occupation of Judea & Samaria was alright, but today’s Israeli presence in Jewish ancestral homeland is unacceptable.

  • efd271

    Yes let us take a stroll down memory lane…. To the conclusion of the first world war and the British leading and fighting along side the Arabs to liberate themselves from the Ottomans.

    Including Jerusalem that was populated by a vast majorty of Palestinian Arabs and was the whole of Palestine. Where promises were made and then broken for independent states of Arabs through out the mid east and Palestine that were agreed to in the McMahon/Hussein agreements and later the Paris accords, League of Nations Mandates and British White Papers.

    Never mind at the time there were barely enough Jews in Palestine for a game of cricket in 1918, and those who were there were Arab and anti Zionists.

    It was the the Arabs that fought for their independence and the prospects of statehood and self determination not Jews from Europe.

    Jordan for the time stopped the west bank from falling into Zionists hands, but gave up all claims to the west bank in 1988 and ceded the land to the Palestinians.

    British Census 1922 Palestine….The 1922 census of Palestine was the first census carried out by the authorities of the British Mandate of Palestine, on 23 October 1922.[1] These numbers were even greater in Arab favor in 1918.

    The reported population was 757,182, including the military and
    persons of foreign nationality. The division into religious groups was
    590,390 Muslims, 83,694 Jews, 73,024 Christians, 7,028 Druze, 808 Sikhs,
    265 Bahais, 156 Metawalis, and 163 Samaritans.[2]

    *BRITISH OFFICAL OF PALESTINE

    November , 1918. British Commander in Jerusalem in a dispatch to the Foreign Office: ” A deputation of all Christian and Moslem sects headed by the Mayor marched singing to these head quarters …had come to protest against the assumption that Palestine was to be handed over to any of the three religions practiced by it’s inhabitants.”

    Palestinian petitions addressed to the allies in 1918/19 ” The native Jews of Palestine ( there is that word again that today’s Zionist want you not to mention and forget) have been and still remain are brethren in pleasure and sorrow.”

    British Military Governor, Jaffa District. 1918: ” What the Arabs fear is not the Jews in Palestine but the Jews who are coming to Palestine.”

    Observations of the British about Palestine relations with Jews 1918/19 Credit Post by Miquon