Walid Khalidi

Walid Khalidi
Name	Walid Khalidi
Native name	وليد خالد
Birth date	1925
Birth place	Jerusalem
Alma mater	American University of Beirut, Columbia University
Occupation	Historian, Arab League diplomat, academic
Known for	Palestinian historiography, documentation of Nakba

Walid Khalidi Walid Khalidi (born 1925) is a Palestinian historian, scholar, and former diplomat noted for his scholarship on Palestine, the Arab–Israeli conflict, and the 1948 Palestinian exodus known as the Nakba. He served in diplomatic roles with the Arab League and later became a prominent academic at institutions including the American University of Beirut and Columbia University. Khalidi's work has influenced historiography alongside figures such as Benny Morris, Ilan Pappé, and Avi Shlaim in debates over the origins of the Arab–Israeli War of 1948.

Early life and education

Khalidi was born into a Jerusalem family active in Palestinian nationalism and the cultural life of Mandatory Palestine. He attended schools in Jerusalem and the King's School, Bruton before studying at the American University of Beirut where he completed undergraduate studies amid regional upheavals including the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. He pursued graduate work at Columbia University in New York City, earning a doctorate that positioned him among a generation of Palestinian intellectuals shaped by events such as the Suez Crisis and the creation of the State of Israel.

Academic career and positions

Khalidi began teaching and conducting research at the American University of Beirut and later held fellowships at Harvard University and Oxford University. He joined the faculty at Columbia University as a visiting scholar and affiliated with research centers including the Institute for Palestine Studies which he helped to establish and lead. Khalidi also served in diplomatic and advisory roles with the Arab League and engaged with initiatives such as the Palestine Liberation Organization's intellectual networks, collaborating with scholars at the Institute for Palestine Studies, Institute for the Study of Conflict, and regional universities in Cairo and Beirut.

Research and major works

Khalidi's bibliography includes documentary collections, monographs, and edited volumes that have become staples in the study of Palestine and the 1948 war. His major works include "Before Their Diaspora", a systematic survey of depopulated Palestinian villages that cross-references British Mandatory Palestine records, United Nations documents, and oral histories. He edited and contributed to publications such as "Palestine: A Personal History" and compilations released by the Institute for Palestine Studies. Khalidi's methodological emphasis on archival documentation draws on sources from the British National Archives, UNRWA, and diplomatic correspondence involving the United Kingdom, France, and United States. His research engages with contemporaries and critics including Benny Morris, Ilana Feldman, Rashid Khalidi, and Efraim Karsh, addressing topics like village depopulation, refugee law under the United Nations General Assembly, and demographic changes documented in the Census of Palestine.

Role in Palestinian historiography and politics

Khalidi emerged as a central figure in Palestinian historiography, shaping narratives about the Nakba, refugee experiences, and territorial loss. His documentation work informed debates at forums such as the UN General Assembly and influenced policy discussions in Amman, Cairo, and Beirut. Khalidi's scholarship intersects with political developments including the Oslo Accords, the Camp David Accords, and negotiations involving the Palestine Liberation Organization and State of Israel delegations. He participated in scholarly exchanges with historians associated with the New Historians movement and engaged in public debates that involved institutions such as The New York Times, Al Jazeera, and university symposia at Harvard, Princeton University, and SOAS University of London.

Awards and recognition

Khalidi has received honors from academic and cultural institutions recognizing his contributions to Palestinian studies and Middle Eastern history. Awards and fellowships have connected him to entities such as the American Council of Learned Societies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and national cultural bodies in Jordan and Lebanon. His leadership at the Institute for Palestine Studies garnered international recognition, and his works are widely cited in scholarship across journals including the Journal of Palestine Studies and Middle East Journal.

Personal life and legacy

Khalidi belongs to a family with deep roots in Jerusalem, related to other prominent figures in Palestinian politics and scholarship such as Rashid Khalidi and Kamel Khalidi. His career spans scholarship, archival preservation, and public advocacy, leaving a legacy evident in contemporary research on the 1948 Palestinian exodus, refugee rights under United Nations instruments, and the historiographical debates that shape understandings of Palestine and the Arab–Israeli conflict. His collected papers and the archives he helped develop are used by researchers at institutions including Columbia University, Harvard University, and the Institute for Palestine Studies to study displacement, diplomacy, and memory.

Category:Palestinian historians Category:People from Jerusalem