Institute for Palestine Studies
Today, we celebrate the 100th birthday of Professor Walid Khalidi, one of the most influential Palestinian scholars of our time, and a foundational figure in the modern intellectual, academic, and political life of the Palestinian people. As co-founder of the Institute for Palestine Studies (IPS) in 1963, Professor Khalidi’s enduring legacy has shaped not only the institute itself, but also the wider field of Palestinian and Arab research and advocacy.
Over the past century, Professor Khalidi’s life has been defined by an unwavering commitment to truth, historical rigor, and justice for Palestine. His career began in the 1940s with the Arab Office in Jerusalem, where he worked to present the Palestinian case to the world during a time of profound upheaval. After witnessing the trauma of 1948 firsthand, he went on to study and later teach at Oxford University. In 1956, he resigned in protest over Britain’s role in the tripartite invasion of Egypt—an act emblematic of the principled stances that have defined his life.
He would go on to teach for decades at the American University of Beirut, Harvard University, and other institutions, shaping generations of students—many of whom became prominent scholars, diplomats, and leaders. In parallel with his academic work, Professor Khalidi remained deeply engaged with political and intellectual movements in the Arab world, especially the rise of Arab nationalism and the evolution of Palestinian politics in the aftermath of 1967.
Professor Khalidi’s scholarly contributions are both vast and transformative. He helped lay the foundations for academic writing on the Nakba, debunking long-standing Zionist myths and placing Palestinian history on solid scholarly ground. His articles such as “Plan Dalet” and “The Fall of Haifa”, republished in the Journal of Palestine Studies, remain landmark texts. His books—including From Haven to Conquest, Before Their Diaspora, and All That Remains—represent a collective intellectual achievement that has shaped global understanding of the Palestinian experience.
As a co-founder of IPS, alongside Constantine Zurayk and Burhan Dajani, and a member of its first Board of Trustees—along with Wadad Cortas, Najla Abu Izzedin, and others—Professor Khalidi envisioned the institute not only as a research center, but as a pillar of cultural and political resilience. For more than 60 years, IPS has worked to publish authoritative scholarship, support younger generations of researchers, and preserve Palestinian memory through its extensive archives, journals, books, and digital platforms.
From the press conference marking the release of the IPS Bulletin, April 7, 1971
His contributions to IPS were never limited to ideas. For decades, Professor Khalidi served as Secretary of the Board, and later as Honorary President, continuing to offer guidance and vision well into his tenth decade. His belief in the role of scholarship as resistance remains central to the institute’s work today.
In a moment when Palestine is again facing unprecedented violence, and when memory itself is under assault, Professor Khalidi’s insistence on documenting, analyzing, and understanding the history of the Palestinian people takes on renewed relevance. His efforts to preserve the Khalidi Library in Jerusalem, a priceless Palestinian and Arab treasure, are just one example of his broader mission to defend and sustain the cultural heritage of Palestine in the face of erasure.
Photo by Lydia O. Cristobal
Today, on the occasion of his 100th birthday, we at the Institute for Palestine Studies extend our deepest gratitude and warmest wishes to Professor Walid Khalidi. We celebrate not only the longevity of his life, but the depth of his contributions, and the clarity of his vision. His integrity, discipline, and dedication have been a guiding light for generations of Palestinians and for all who seek justice.
As he enters his 100th year, Professor Khalidi continues to follow the work of IPS and reflect on the challenges and hopes facing Palestine today.
We wish him continued health and peace, knowing that his life’s work continues to inspire, guide, and endure.
From the press conference marking the release of the IPS Bulletin, April 7, 1971
From meetings and gatherings of the IPS Board of Trustees, 1999
From meetings and gatherings of the IPS Board of Trustees, 2010
Walid Khalid
Photo by Lydia O. Cristobal
Walid Khalidi
Walid Khalidi
Institute for Palestine Studies headquarters in Beirut
Institute for Palestine Studies office in Washington