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In a significant move to preserve the historical accounts of the Palestinian narrative, the personal diaries of renowned Palestinian writer and lawyer, Raja Shehadeh, have been officially transferred to the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research Collections. This archive, spanning nearly 60 years of documented life in the West Bank, is a treasure trove of personal insights and historical accounts of the region’s tumultuous past.
Shehadeh, now 75, began his meticulous documentation in 1967, just weeks before the Six-Day War, which led to Israel capturing the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank. His journey through the years captures the essence of a people living through a period of profound change and conflict. The archive, which includes tens of thousands of pages and over 5 million words, offers a unique perspective on life under Jordanian rule, the Israeli occupation, and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian rights.
The decision to move his archive came in late 2023, amidst growing concerns over the safety of his collection due to Israel’s increased military operations in the occupied West Bank and the devastating war on Gaza. Shehadeh, a scholar and public intellectual, felt compelled to protect his work from potential destruction.
The transfer to Edinburgh was no small feat. The University of Edinburgh, along with the Digital Archive of the Middle East at the University of Exeter and a Palestinian team from Jerusalem’s Educational Bookshop, collaborated to ensure the safe delivery of the archive. The effort required the mobilization of resources and expertise, with everyone involved putting aside personal ego for the greater good of preserving this historical record.
Shehadeh chose Edinburgh for his archive due to his personal connection to the city. Over the years, he has launched 14 of his books at the capital’s annual book festival. The archive also includes material belonging to his late father, Aziz Shehadeh, a lawyer from Ramallah, further enriching the historical perspective it offers.
The process of digitizing and archiving the material has been a collaborative effort, with team members working tirelessly to ensure the preservation of Shehadeh’s work. Yazeed Abu Khdeir and Mahmoud Muna, among others, were instrumental in the digitization process, ensuring that the diaries would be accessible to researchers and the public alike.
Despite the transfer of his archive, Shehadeh has no intention of ceasing his diary-keeping. “Once you start keeping a journal, you can’t stop,” he says. “My day is not finished until I’ve put down all my thoughts in a diary.”
The significance of Shehadeh’s work cannot be overstated. His diaries offer a vivid and personal account of the Palestinian experience, providing a unique lens through which to understand the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges facing the region, Shehadeh’s archive will serve as a vital resource for those seeking to understand the human dimension of this ongoing conflict.
The University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Research Collections is now the guardian of this invaluable historical record. It will be made available to researchers and the public, ensuring that the voices and experiences documented by Shehadeh are heard and understood for generations to come.
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