Raghib al-Nashashibi

Raghib al-Nashashibi (, ) (1881–1951), CBE (hon), was a Palestinian public figure and wealthy landowner during the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate and the Jordanian administration. A member of the Nashashibi clan, he was one of the most influential families in Palestine and served as mayor of Jerusalem from 1920 to 1935.

Background Nashashibi graduated from Istanbul University and became Jerusalem's District Engineer. The Nashashibis were one of the oldest and most influential Jerusalem families, and historical rivals of the Husayni family.

Political career

Nashashibi succeeded Musa Kazim al-Husayni as mayor of Jerusalem in 1920, and was elected to the post in the 1927 Municipal elections. Haym Salomon and Jacob Faradj were elected as vice-mayors. He sought re-election as Mayor and to the City Council in 1934, but lost his seat in the city council to Hussein Khalidi. He subsequently appealed the results to the Jerusalem District Court. Which ruled in Khalidi's favor in January 1935. Nashashibi was subsequently succeeded as Mayor by Khalidi later that month.

He was a leading opponent of the Husayni family in Palestine. In 1937 he secretly favoured union with Transjordan. Nashashibi was a founding member of the Arab Higher Committee and a leader of the National Defence Party.

Following the outbreak of the Arab–Israeli War, Nashashibi fled to Egypt. He subsequently returned to the West Bank, His second wife was called Alice. Nasashibi died in April 1951 of illness at Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem.