Biography prepared by: Khaled Reda
Walid Khalidi (16 July 1925 – 8 March 2026) was a renowned Palestinian historian, academic, and researcher whose work played a crucial role in documenting Palestinian history and preserving the historical memory of the Palestinian people. Born in Jerusalem during the period of British Mandate for Palestine, Khalidi became one of the most influential scholars writing about modern Palestinian history and the Arab–Israeli conflict.
Over several decades, Khalidi dedicated his academic work to documenting the history of Palestinian society, particularly the events surrounding the 1948 Palestinian displacement, widely known as the Nakba. His research helped record the destruction and depopulation of hundreds of Palestinian villages and preserved historical evidence of Palestinian life before and after 1948.
Khalidi passed away on 8 March 2026 in Cambridge, United States, at the age of 100. He was widely described as “the historian of the Palestinian cause” because of his lifelong commitment to documenting Palestinian history and identity. Even in the final years of his life, Khalidi remained intellectually active and continued working on his memoirs, which he completed shortly before his death and which are expected to be published posthumously.
Colleagues and scholars who knew Khalidi frequently noted his extraordinary intellectual abilities, including his remarkable memory, deep historical knowledge, and his ability to reconstruct events with detailed context and analysis. Even in advanced age, he remained engaged in scholarly discussion and mentoring younger researchers.
Education and Early Career
Walid Khalidi received his higher education at the prestigious University of Oxford, where he studied modern history. His first academic position was teaching at Oxford, but he resigned in 1956 in protest against the British role in the Suez Crisis, reflecting his early political and intellectual engagement with issues affecting the Arab world.
In 1957, Khalidi joined the faculty of the American University of Beirut, where he taught political science and public administration for more than two decades. This period marked the height of his scholarly work and influence, during which he produced many of his most significant studies on Palestinian history.
Throughout his career, Khalidi also held visiting and research positions at major universities, including:
-
Harvard University
-
Princeton University
-
Columbia University
His teaching and research helped shape the academic field of Middle Eastern Studies and introduced generations of students and researchers to Palestinian history and politics.
Institute for Palestine Studies
In 1963, Khalidi co-founded the Institute for Palestine Studies in Beirut. The institute became one of the most important independent research centers dedicated to the study of Palestinian history, politics, and society.
Khalidi served as the institute’s general secretary for decades, helping develop it into one of the most respected academic institutions focusing on the Palestinian question and the Arab–Israeli conflict.
Through the institute’s publications, research programs, and journals—particularly the Journal of Palestine Studies, which Khalidi helped establish—he played a central role in building the field of Palestine studies as a recognized academic discipline.
Major Scholarly Contributions
Walid Khalidi is best known for his groundbreaking work documenting Palestinian villages and communities that were depopulated during the events of 1948.
Among his most influential publications are:
All That Remains
This landmark reference work documents more than 400 Palestinian villages that were destroyed or depopulated during the war surrounding the establishment of Israel in 1948. The book contains historical records, demographic data, maps, photographs, and detailed descriptions of each village.
Produced after years of research by a team of scholars and field researchers, the book enabled generations of Palestinians to learn about the villages from which their families originated and how these communities were erased from the map.
It remains one of the most comprehensive works documenting the historical geography of Palestine before and after the Nakba.
Before Their Diaspora
This publication provides a photographic and historical account of Palestinian society before 1948, preserving rare images and records of Palestinian life prior to displacement.
From Haven to Conquest
Published in 1971, this influential volume—compiled and edited by Khalidi—examines the origins of the Palestine question, the development of Zionism, and the political events leading to the establishment of Israel. It remains a foundational reference for scholars studying the history of Zionism and the Palestine question.
In his writings, Khalidi famously described the British Mandate as Zionism’s “British Shield,” highlighting the role of British policies in facilitating the development of the Zionist project in Palestine.
In addition to these books, Khalidi authored several seminal scholarly articles examining key events of the Nakba, including studies on the Fall of Haifa and the Israeli military strategy known as Plan Dalet, which remain essential academic references for understanding the events of 1948.
Intellectual and Political Engagement
Beyond his academic work, Khalidi was also deeply involved in intellectual and political debates concerning the Palestinian question.
He served as an adviser to Arab delegations in international discussions related to Palestine and contributed to diplomatic and political debates about possible solutions to the conflict.
Khalidi was also among the early Palestinian intellectuals to advocate for a historic compromise between Palestinians and Israelis, later widely known as the two-state solution, beginning as early as the 1970s. His position reflected his understanding of the geopolitical realities confronting the Palestinian national movement.
At the same time, Khalidi consistently emphasized that Israel should be confronted with a choice between a negotiated settlement and continued conflict, warning that without a viable political solution the region would face prolonged instability.
Historical Importance and Legacy
Walid Khalidi is widely regarded as one of the most important historians of modern Palestine. His work helped establish the academic study of Palestinian history and played a decisive role in preserving historical documentation about Palestinian society and the Nakba.
In addition to his scholarly publications, Khalidi built lasting intellectual institutions and academic platforms that allowed Palestinian scholarship to develop internationally. His writings combined rigorous historical research with eloquence, moral conviction, and a commitment to historical accuracy.
Through his books, institutional work, and scholarship, Khalidi helped shape global understanding of the Palestinian experience and ensured that historical records of Palestinian villages, communities, and culture would be preserved for future generations.
His scholarship continues to serve as an essential reference for historians, political scientists, and researchers studying the history of Palestine and the broader Middle East.
Walid Khalidi (16 July 1925 – 8 March 2026) was a renowned Palestinian historian, academic, and researcher whose work played a crucial role in documenting Palestinian history and preserving the historical memory of the Palestinian people. Born in Jerusalem during the period of British Mandate for Palestine, Khalidi became one of the most influential scholars writing about modern Palestinian history and the Arab–Israeli conflict.
Khalidi passed away on 8 March 2026 in Cambridge, United States, at the age of 100, after a lifetime dedicated to scholarship and the preservation of Palestinian history.
