The Road to Jerusalem: Glubb Pasha, Palestine and the Jews

by Benny Morris

General Sir John Glubb was the last British pro-Consul of the region and commander of the Arab Legion during the crucial years between 1936 and 1956, which were to witness the collapse of Palestine and the final foundation and establishment of the State of Israel. As well as an analysis of Glubb's personal vision of the Middle East and its peoples - a surprisingly racial vision that would condition his politics - this book examines his reactions to the Arab Revolt in Palestine and the periodic plans to partition Palestine and establish a Jewish state. It offers an in-depth account of his thinking and actions during 1948, as he led his small army into Palestine and war against Israel.

Genres: Middle East, History, Israel

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Benny Morris is professor of history in the Middle East Studies department of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in the city of Be'er Sheva, Israel. He is a key member of the group of Israeli historians known as the "New Historians".

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Bagot Glubb was the last of a great tradition of desert-mad Englishmen who went off to live and serve with the Arabs. He was best known as the commander of the Arab Legion (which eventually became the Royal Jordanian Army) from 1939 until 1956 and, as such, was a major player in the Middle East. Benny Morris, the foremost historian of the Arab-Israeli conflict, has written a very readable and in-depth professional biography of this somewhat controversial figure. "Glubb Pasha" totally identified with his beloved Bedouin soldiers, served faithfully as a retainer of the Hashimites who ruled - and still rule - Jordan, and yet labored to serve the interests of the British in the Middle East. His outstanding military achievement was to command the only successful Arab army during Israel's War of Independence (1948-49). A most accessible book on a fascinating character.

[Arthur Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Bagot Glubb, affectionately known as "Glubb Pasha", was basically Lawrence of Arabia 2: Electric Boogaloo.

[Dirk-Heine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much worth to be read, not only because Morris makes excellent use of source material to paint a clear picture of what went on in Jordan during the 1948 war, but also as an example of how one can write objectively and fair on such a controversial subject such as the Arab-Israeli conflict.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book for research in a book I am writing, and was pleasantly surprised. The book is riveting. And it's rare that one gets a chance to read about the intrigues and considerations before, during, and after the Israeli War of Independence from the perspective of the active Arab participants. Morris tries to be impartial, and I think to a great extent he succeeds. John Bagot Glubb (called Glubb Pasha) was a representative of the British government who eventually commanded the Arab Legion under King Abdullah. He was intimate with Arabs (spoke Arabic fluently without an accent) and especially admired the bedouins. The book only lags (especially in the opening chapter) when Morris tries to draw conclusions about Glubb Pasha's behavior; but once Morris begins describing the history and unfolding of events, the book, as I wrote above, is riveting. In addition, many of Glubb Pasha's observations about Arabs and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were prescient, despite his anti-Semitism -- and occasionally brilliant. Highly recommended.