Palestinian History and Politics: An Introduction and Documentary Reader

This textbook brings together a collection of the most important primary sources in the study of Palestinian nationalism, from the late 19th century through to the present day.

Drawing from the eight-volume, 3,500-page collection published by the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, this volume contains over 170 of the most important documents in Palestinian political history. Each document has been carefully edited so that extraneous material is removed, making it easier for the student to understand the historical threads that connect the documents. The collection here includes private memoranda and correspondence, political speeches, official treaties, formal letters of understanding, multinational agreements, and international communiqués, and will provide the student with an excellent foundation to understand why Palestinian nationalism has not been as successful in the region as other nationalist movements. In addition, an introductory chapter provides key context for the study of Palestinian history, illustrating the history of successes and challenges faced by proponents of Palestinian nationalism.

Palestinian History and Politics: An Introduction and Documentary Reader is a single volume that will interest students focused on Palestine’s quest for national status, as well as instructors teaching courses on Palestinian political history.

Gregory S. Mahler is Academic Dean Emeritus and Research Professor of Politics at Earlham College (Indiana). He received his BA from Oberlin College and his MA/PhD from Duke University. He is the author of over 30 books on comparative politics and the Middle East, including The Arab-Israeli Conflict (Routledge, 2024).

Mahdi F. Abdul Hadi (1944–2025) received his PhD from the School of Peace Studies at Bradford University, UK, in 1984. He was the founder and Chairman of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs (PASSIA) in Jerusalem, as well as the (co-)founder of many Palestinian institutions. In 2019, he became a member of the Islamic Waqf Council in Jerusalem. He authored and edited numerous publications on the Palestine question. He died following a short illness in January of 2025.