Rashid Ismail Khalidi, born in 1948, is a distinguished Palestinian-American historian with a focus on the Middle East. He holds the prestigious title of the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia University. Over the years, Khalidi has significantly contributed to the academic and public understanding of Middle Eastern history, politics, and culture through his extensive teaching and writing.

Khalidi has a rich academic history, having taught at renowned institutions such as the Lebanese University, the American University of Beirut, Georgetown University, and the University of Chicago. He served as editor of the Journal of Palestine Studies from 2002 until 2020, after which he assumed the role of co-editor alongside Sherene Seikaly. Khalidi was also the president of the Middle East Studies Association, evidencing his leadership and influence in the field.

As an author, Khalidi's bibliography includes influential works like The Hundred Years' War on Palestine and Palestinian Identity: The Construction of Modern National Consciousness. His writings have appeared in prestigious publications such as the New York Times, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune. For his contributions to the study of the Middle East, Khalidi has been awarded fellowships and grants by several esteemed organizations, including the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, among others.

Khalidi also played a pivotal role in international diplomacy, serving as an advisor to the Palestinian delegation during the peace negotiations in Madrid and Washington between 1991 and 1993.