Raghib al-Nashashibi


Raghib al-Nashashibi , CBE, was a wealthy landowner and public figure during the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate and the Jordanian administration. He was a member of the Nashashibi clan, one of the most influential families in Palestine, and mayor of Jerusalem from 1920 to 1934.

Background

Nashashibi graduated from Istanbul University and became Jerusalem's District Engineer. The Nashashibis 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, serving in 1927 with Haym Salomon and Jacob Faradj, who were elected as vice-mayors. He was a leading opponent of the Husayni family in Palestine. In 1937 he secretly favoured union with Transjordan. Nashashibi was a founding member of the Arab Higher Committee and a leader of the National Defence Party.
In August 1949 he was appointed head of the new Jordanian 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.

Personal life

His second wife, a French Jew, lived on Kantura street. Their eldest son was Mansur.