Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury, a luminary of Arab literature known for his unwavering dedication to the Palestinian cause, has passed away at the age of 76. Khoury, who made significant contributions to Arab intellectual discourse and taught at universities worldwide, had been battling illness for several months and endured multiple hospitalizations over the past year before his death early Sunday, as reported by Al-Quds Al-Arabi daily.
Born on July 12, 1948, in Beirut, Khoury emerged as a compelling voice for freedom of speech and a fierce critic of Middle Eastern dictatorships. His writings extended beyond novels, encompassing incisive articles penned for various Arab media outlets over five decades, which cemented his reputation throughout the Arab world.
Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, Khoury published an article in Al-Quds Al-Arabi titled “It’s Palestine.” In the piece, he described Gaza as “the biggest open-air prison” and criticized Israel’s settlement policies, depicting Gaza’s actions as a struggle against occupation and forced displacement.
Khoury’s academic journey took him from the Lebanese University to the University of Paris, where he earned a PhD in social history. His political views were deeply intertwined with his literary work, often addressing the plight of Palestinians and condemning Israel’s “brutal” settlement practices. He famously wrote about the ongoing impact of the 1948 Nakba, a term many Arabs use to describe the displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel.
An ardent supporter of the Arab uprisings that began in 2011, Khoury wrote compellingly about their significance. “The question is not why the Arab revolts broke out,” he observed, “but how fear built Arab kingdoms of silence for five decades.” His insights into the dynamics of fear and governance resonated with many in the region, especially in the wake of the toppling of leaders like Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Khoury hailed from a Greek Orthodox Christian family and was actively involved in Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war, even sustaining injuries in combat. His editorial career saw him helm the cultural section of Lebanon’s prominent An-Nahar newspaper from 1992 until 2009, and he served as the editor-in-chief of the Palestine Studies magazine until his death.
Khoury’s literary debut came in 1975, but it was his second novel, Little Mountain, released in 1977 and centered on Lebanon’s civil war, that garnered significant attention. His acclaimed 2000 novel, Bab al-Shams, or Gate of the Sun, focused on Palestinian refugees in Lebanon since 1948 and was later adapted into a film in Egypt. His works have been translated into several languages, including Hebrew, broadening their global impact.
In addition to his prolific writing career, Khoury imparted knowledge at various prestigious institutions, including New York University, Columbia, Princeton, Houston, and the University of London, leaving an indelible mark on both literature and academia.
