The Mufti of Jerusalem and the Nazis

Book excerpt: Amin al-Husaini is undeniably one of the key figures of the 20th century. He was the religious head of the Palestinian Muslims for 16 years, their political leader for 30 years, and, for a time, he was the most important representative of the Arab world. Now available in paperback, this book examines the time that Amin al-Husaini spent in Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945. It looks at what the Mufti was hoping to gain politically and ideologically while he was there. The book is directed primarily at the four years which the Mufti of Jerusalem, with his staff of some 60 persons and a secret service of his own, spent in Berlin as a guest and at the expense of the Third Reich. Although seen as only a four year period of time, even today, this period continues to poison the Israeli-Arab relationship. Al-Husaini cooperated eagerly with the Nazis to prevent Jews emigrating from Europe to Palestine. Aware of what was happening, he wanted to see the Jews destroyed. He also expected a high position for himself in the Arab world after the Nazis had won World War II. Germany's enemies became his enemies and he waged a campaign of hate against the British and the Americans, who were, he claimed, pawns of the Jews. This began the path towards anti-Americanism and the struggle against 'Western depravity' in the name of Islam. The book shows how Amin al-Husaini used murder, terrorism, intrigue, extortion, and the abuse of religion to obtain his goals. His broadcasts to the Muslims in North Africa during World War II were appeals for martyrdom in order to help the Germans, as that would guarantee Paradise. After the war, he continued to act in precisely the same manner. His greed for wealth, hunger for power, despotism, ruthlessness, and intransigence were all factors that brought disaster upon his people and have, unfortunately, set a standard that remains valid in Palestinian politics today. *** "It is to be desired that politicians and journalists read this book, in which, based on German primary source files, Klaus Gensicke proves that Haj Muhammad Amin al-Husaini, Mufti of Jerusalem since 1921, participated in the murder of European Jews and his anti-Semitism contributed to the outbreak of the futile war against Israel in 1948." -- Karl Pfeifer *** "The study is well documented, clearly written and adds much hitherto unknown information on the Mufti's close collaboration with Fascist Italy and especially Nazi Germany." -- Jewish Book World, Fall 5771/2011 *** Librarians: ebook available on ProQuest and EBSCO [Subject: History, Middle East Studies, Palestinian Studies, Islamic Studies, Politics, International Relations]