Aref al-Aref Officiates at the end of a Blood Feud, Palestine 1943

In 1943, al-Aref took on the role of district officer in the Ramallah subdistrict (within the Jerusalem district). He became assistant to the British Commissioner of the Jerusalem district, a position he held until 1948.

In 1949, after the city was divided by the war, King Abdullah of Jordan appointed al-Aref as head of the municipality of Arab (later to become "East") Jerusalem. In 1950, he was elected as mayor of Arab Jerusalem until 1955. He was also appointed as minister of public works.

Aref al-Aref in al-Hamami village near Majdal, April 20, 1943-officiating at the end of a blood feud in his capacity as a district officer in the Beersheba district