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Hussein Bey al-Husayni | |
|---|---|
| حسين الحسيني | |
 Portrait of al-Husayni during his term as mayor | |
| Mayor of Jerusalem | |
| In office 1909–1917 | |
| Preceded by | Yousef al-Khalidi |
| Succeeded by | Aref al-Dajani |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Died | 1918 (1919) |
| Nationality | Palestinian |
| Occupation | Politician |
Hussein Bey al-Husayni (Arabic:حسين الحسيني; died 1918) was aPalestinian politician who served as mayor ofJerusalem from 1909 to 1917, the last years ofOttoman rule over the city.
Born into the prominentJerusalemiteArab family ofal-Husayni, his fatherSalim al-Husayni had also served as mayor of the city.[1] He was first elected to the position with 648 of 1200 electors' votes.[2]
Under Hussein's leadership, the city went through high development; al-Husayni initiated the paving of roads, which ensured cleaner streets, and started construction of a sewage network, which was partly financed byJewish communities from outsidePalestine. In an interview with theEgyptian newspaperAl-Iqdam in March 1914, he stressed the distinction betweenZionism, which did not threaten Palestine, and he believed to be the real risk to the local Arab community from the Jewish settlers movement; and the subsequent necessity to prevent land sales to Jews.[dubious –discuss] Al-Husayni also served as Director of theRed Crescent Society, established in 1915 and promoted Arab-Jewish understanding.[1]
He helped fosterMuslim,Jewish andChristian cooperation in an attempt to create a "post-Ottoman" alternative. On 9 December 1917, after theAllied forces led byGeneral Allenby had forced the Ottoman defenders out of the city, al-Husayni formally surrendered Jerusalem to theBritish Military Administration.[3] He signed an official decree of surrender a few days later, handing the keys of the city gates to Allenby. A couple of weeks after the surrender in January 1918, he died.[clarification needed] After a brief term byAref al-Dajani, Hussein's brotherMusa al-Husayni became mayor of Jerusalem.[1]
