The Forgotten Arab Legion: Jordan's Hidden Role in Palestine

While the 1948 war is often framed as a conflict between Jewish and Palestinian forces, or Israelis and Arab states, one army operated with distinct autonomy and conflicting orders: the Arab Legion of Transjordan. Led by British-trained General John Bagot Glubb Pasha, this elite force was tasked with protecting the West Bank while ostensibly avoiding confrontation with the newly declared State of Israel. This episode explores the complex geopolitical tightrope walked by King Abdullah I, who secretly negotiated with David Ben-Gurion to divide the territory between his own ambitions and the Zionist state, leaving the Palestinian leadership isolated. We examine the pivotal Battle for Jerusalem, the controversial decision to enter the Old City, and the aftermath that shaped the borders of modern Jordan and the Palestinian territories. Through declassified British archives and personal diaries, we uncover how a small, professional army influenced the fate of millions, and why its legacy remains a subject of intense debate among historians today.

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