The Politics of Partition: King Abdullah, the Zionists and Palestine 1921-1951

The Politics of Partition examines the relationship between King Abdullah of Jordan and the Zionist movement during a pivotal three-decade period. Historian Avi Shlaim draws on British, Israeli, and Jordanian archives to analyze the diplomatic exchanges and secret negotiations that shaped the partition of Palestine. The book traces Abdullah's evolution from his early role as Emir of Transjordan through his expansionist ambitions in Greater Syria. Through diplomatic correspondence and meeting records, it reconstructs the complex web of relationships between Abdullah, the British government, Jewish Agency leaders, and other Arab states. The narrative focuses on the critical period between 1947-1951, documenting the negotiations and military events surrounding the establishment of Israel and Jordan's annexation of the West Bank. Shlaim incorporates previously classified documents to present new perspectives on these transformative events. This work challenges conventional interpretations of the Arab-Israeli conflict by highlighting the pragmatic dealings between Arab and Jewish leaders during this era. The book raises fundamental questions about the intersection of personal ambition, regional politics, and the fate of Palestine.

Readers describe this as a detailed account of King Abdullah's relationship with the Zionist movement, based on British, Israeli, and Jordanian archives. Many note its thorough research and documentation. Liked: - Clear presentation of complex diplomatic negotiations - New information from previously unreleased documents - Balanced treatment of both Arab and Israeli perspectives - Specific focus on Abdullah's role rather than broader conflict Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Assumes significant background knowledge - Limited coverage of Palestinian perspective - Some readers question Shlaim's interpretations of Abdullah's motivations Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (48 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 reviews) One reader on Amazon noted: "Shlaim provides evidence for claims that others have only speculated about." A Goodreads reviewer criticized: "The writing can be dry and the details overwhelming for general readers."

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🔷 King Abdullah of Jordan secretly met with Golda Meir and other Zionist leaders at least twelve times between 1947-1950, including clandestine meetings in Naharayim and Abdullah's palace in Amman. 🔷 Author Avi Shlaim was born in Baghdad to Jewish parents and spent his early years in Iraq before his family fled to Israel in 1950, giving him a unique perspective on Middle Eastern history. 🔷 The book reveals that Abdullah had proposed partitioning Palestine between himself and the Jews as early as 1937, long before the UN partition plan of 1947. 🔷 King Abdullah was assassinated in 1951 at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by a Palestinian nationalist who believed the king had betrayed the Palestinian cause through his negotiations with Israel. 🔷 The research for this book was groundbreaking at the time of its 1988 publication, as Shlaim was one of the first historians granted access to previously classified Israeli state archives about the partition period.