Welcoming Refugees Would Have Saved Millions Of Lives – OpEd

Haj Amin al-Husseini meeting with Adolf Hitler (28 November 1941). Photo Credit: Bundesarchiv, Bild, Wikipedia Commons

 July 8, 2024 

By Rabbi Allen S. Maller

Fifty years ago, on July 4, 1974, Hajj Amin al-Husayni, the “Grand Mufti” of Jerusalem, died of natural causes in Beirut, Lebanon at age 79. The Mufti was appointed to his position by the British in 1921. Within the British Empire, authorities preferred to work through “native” institutions, even if they had to create them on the fly. So they established a supreme council for Palestine’s Muslims and placed the Mufti at its helm. Although he lacked religious qualifications, he did come from a leading family and appeared capable of striking deals.

In fact, he used his position to oppose almost all Jewish activities. The “Arab Revolt” of 1936 finally convinced the British that he had to go, and in 1937 he fled the country. He ended up in Iraq, where he helped foment a coup against the pro-British regime. When British forces suppressed the coup, he fled again, making his way to Berlin. There, the Nazi regime used him to stir up Arabs and Muslims against the Allies. 

He was photographed with Hitler and Himmler, recruited Muslims to fight for the Axis, and attempted to secure promises of independence for Arabs and Muslims. None of his efforts met with much success except one. 

The Mufti’s strong opposition to a two state solution did prevent the birth of an independent Jewish State in 1938 from saving hundreds of thousands of Jewish lives in 1938-1941.

The Mufti’s strong opposition to a two state solution did prevent the birth of an independent Palestine State in 1938 which would have avoided the need for the 1948 war and its displacement of over a half million refugees.  

Israelis and Palestinians still suffer from the poisonous policies of this person. 

Rabbi Allen S. Maller

Allen Maller retired in 2006 after 39 years as Rabbi of Temple Akiba in Culver City, Calif. He is the author of an introduction to Jewish mysticism. God. Sex and Kabbalah and editor of the Tikun series of High Holy Day prayerbooks.