Bios

Palestinian Jerusalemites have made myriad and diverse contributions to their city’s history and community fabric. Here we profile some of those people—past and present; famous and obscure—whose lives and work and stories have helped shape the larger Jerusalem Story over time.

Khalil Raad

A prolific photographer whose body of work documented daily life in Jerusalem over six decades

Nahil Bishara

One of the few female artists who depicted Jerusalem in the mid-20th century

The West Side Story Hanna Safieh

Among the first Jerusalemites to use a camera professionally to document key historical events as well as everyday life in pre-1948 Palestine and beyond

Find alphabetically by first letter of last name

Zahira Kamal

Educator, warrior for women’s rights, founder of women’s organizations, and trailblazing political leader and activist

Representation Hussein al-Khalidi

A physician and politician from Jerusalem who played a central role in the Palestinian nationalist movement and left a copious record of it all.

Representation Yusuf Diya’ al-Khalidi

A prominent Ottoman politician who served as mayor of Jerusalem and Jerusalem representative and was a prolific writer, talented linguist, and scholar

Representation Anwar al-Khatib al-Tamimi

A lifelong public servant who served as mayor and governor of Jerusalem, and held the latter post when East Jerusalem was occupied in 1967

Representation Ruhi al-Khatib

Jerusalemite who dedicated his life to public service and strengthening the city, including as mayor 1957–67; popularly known as the “Amin of Jerusalem”

Samia Khoury

A social activist, educator, and institution builder who has dedicated her life to serving her community

Suhail Khoury

A musician with a passion for Mozart and Palestine

Mustafa al-Kurd

An iconic figure in Palestinian music whose work expressed the cultural and political experiences of Palestinians under occupation