Full Breakdown
Walid Khalidi: A Legacy of Palestinian Scholarship and Advocacy
3/9/2026, 11:13:18 PM
Passing of a Scholar
Walid Khalidi, a prominent Palestinian historian and co-founder of the Institute for Palestine Studies, passed away at the age of 100 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 5, 2026. Khalidi was renowned for his extensive research on the Nakba, the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestine, and his work significantly shaped the understanding of Palestinian history and identity. His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from scholars and Palestinian officials, with Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, describing him as “a national treasure” and “a guardian of memory.”
Academic Contributions
Born in Jerusalem in 1925, Khalidi's academic journey began at the University of London, followed by the University of Oxford, where he earned a Master of Arts in Islamic Studies in 1951. He began teaching at Oxford but resigned in protest against the British intervention in Egypt during the Suez Crisis. Khalidi later joined the American University of Beirut, where he taught political studies until 1982. His scholarship included significant works such as "All That Remains," which meticulously documented the destruction of over 400 Palestinian villages during the Nakba, and "Before Their Diaspora," which provided a photographic history of Palestinian life prior to 1948.
Khalidi's co-founding of the Institute for Palestine Studies in 1963 marked a pivotal moment in Palestinian scholarship, as the institute became a leading resource for research on Palestinian history, politics, and society. Under his leadership, it produced critical studies and translations, including the diaries of Israeli leaders David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Sharett.
Diplomatic Engagement
In addition to his academic pursuits, Khalidi was actively involved in Palestinian diplomacy. Following the 1967 war, he served as an adviser to the Iraqi delegation at the United Nations and participated in the joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation to the 1991 Madrid peace conference. Khalidi was a proponent of a two-state solution, arguing in a 1988 article for Foreign Affairs that a Palestinian state alongside Israel was essential for a historical compromise in the ongoing conflict.
Legacy and Impact
Khalidi's contributions extended beyond academia into the realm of public life, where he advised Palestinian leaders and shaped key speeches, including Yasser Arafat's address to the UN in 1974. His work has been described as a safeguard for Palestine's history, challenging narratives that sought to erase the Palestinian presence and experience. Khalidi's legacy is expected to endure, as his scholarship continues to influence future generations of scholars and advocates for Palestinian rights.
Verbatim Quotes
- “his scholarship and research are a foundation that generations will continue to build on” — Jehad Abusalim, Policy Analyst
- “synonymous with his beloved homeland, Palestine” — Khalil Jahshan, Executive Director, Arab Center Washington DC
- “He documented what was destroyed, challenged falsehoods that justified Israel’s dispossession, and insisted that the Palestinian people could not be written out of their land or out of history.” — Middle East Monitor
Khalidi's passing marks the end of an extraordinary life dedicated to preserving the history and narrative of the Palestinian people, ensuring that their story remains a vital part of global historical discourse.
