Walid Khalidi reshaped how the history of Palestine is written

Walid Khalidi reshaped how the history of Palestine is written Submitted by Basheer Nafi on Mon, 03/23/2026 - 14:39 The Palestinian historian's work challenged dominant narratives and forced scholars to confront what had long been omitted, distorted or denied about 1948 and its consequences Palestinian historian Walid Khalidi delivers a lecture at SOAS University of London in March 2014 (SOAS University of London/Wikimedia Commons) Off The eminent Palestinian historian Walid Khalidi (1925-2026), whose death was announced on Wednesday, 8 March, was born into one of the oldest Palestinian families in Jerusalem. Over the centuries, the Khalidi family produced countless Muslim 'ulama, jurists and judges. Like many other 'ayan (notable) families in the period after Ottoman modernisation, increasing numbers of young Khalidis turned towards modern education.