Emile Touma

(1919-1985)

Emile Touma was a leading Palestinian political thinker, historian, journalist, and one of the most prominent Palestinian Marxist figures of the 20th century. Born in Haifa, Touma was instrumental in shaping the Palestinian and broader Arab leftist movement. He joined the Palestine Communist Party in 1939 and, in 1942, co-founded the Palestinian National Liberation League, emerging as one of its principal leaders and advocates for Arab liberation and unity. After the 1948 Nakba and a period of brief exile, Touma returned to Haifa in 1949 and became a prominent member of the Communist Party of Israel, remaining a defining voice for Palestinian national rights and Arab identity. Touma served as the long-time editor-in-chief of the influential newspaper Al-Ittihad and authored significant works on Arab unity, Marxist theory, and Palestinian history. His legacy endures through his scholarly and political influence and is honored in Haifa by the Emile Touma Institute for Palestinian and Israeli Studies, which continues to foster research and dialogue inspired by his work.

Works

Election Campaign and Real Issues [Information Bulletin Communist Party of Israel] (October 1969)

About the Idea of a Palestinian State (1970)

Deteriorating Israeli Position in Africa [The African Communist #54] (Third Quarter 1973)

The Palestine Question: Heart of the Middle East Conflict [Jewish Affairs CPUSA] (March-April 1974)

On the Zionist Ideological Crisis [Jewish Affairs CPUSA] (September-December 1974)

Secondary Literature

Decleration on Palestine [Signatory] (1947)

Declaration on the Basic Policy [Signatory] (1947)