QUICK FACTS
Date of Birth
1967
Jordan
Place of Birth
Why Featured?
Pioneering Work in Political Economy of Palestine
BRIEF BIO
Leila Farsakh is a distinguished Palestinian political economist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Known for her deep analysis of the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the political economy of the Middle East, Farsakh has significantly contributed to academic and public understanding of Palestinian labor migration, international migration, and regional integration.
LAST UPDATED
DATE
Monday, January 26, 2026
MAJOR MILESTONES
Key dates & turning points
Academic Credentials: Earned her MPhil from the University of Cambridge in 1990 and PhD from the University of London in 2003.
Research Fellowship: Conducted post-doctoral research at Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies and was affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Award Recognition: Received the Peace and Justice Award from the Cambridge Peace Commission in 2001.
Editorial Leadership: Served on the editorial board of the Journal of Palestine Studies from 2008 to 2020.
Innovative Projects: Co-directed the Jerusalem 2050 project, a joint initiative by MIT aimed at envisioning future peace and conflict resolutions in Jerusalem.
CONTRIBUTIONS
What they did, and why it matters
Scholarly Publications: Authored key works such as "Palestinian Labour Migration to Israel: Labour, Land and Occupation," providing a critical view of the economic impacts of the occupation.
Advocacy and Policy Influence: Worked with international organizations including the OECD, contributing to policies impacting the Middle East...See More
Educational Impact: Through her teaching and public lectures, Farsakh has educated a generation of students on Middle Eastern politics and the complexities of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Academic Collaboration: Engaged in meaningful collaborations with institutions like Birzeit University to bolster research on Palestinian economic and social issues.
Public Engagement: Regularly participates in conferences and public discussions, advocating for a nuanced understanding of Palestinian rights and statehood prospects...See More
Disclaimer: This chat uses AI to generate responses inspired by the profile content and publicly available information. It does not represent the real person.
Last updated
Jan 26, 2026
DISCOVER
Profiles from the Same Path
A rotating spotlight on voices that shaped Palestine’s culture, thought, and history.