Palestinian Legislative Council and the PLO executive committee Huwaida Arraf – rights activist and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Michael Tarazi – lawyer and former adviser to the Palestine Liberation Organization Kamal Nasser – PLO political leader, writer and poet Layla Moran – first British MP of Palestinian descent Journalists Shireen Abu Akleh – journalist who worked as a reporter for the Arabic-language channel Al Jazeera for 25 years Issa El-Issa – the founder of Filastin newspaper in Jaffa, Palestine 1909 Yousef El-Issa – Issa's cousin who also founded Filastin newspaper in 1909, he also established Alif Ba' newspaper in Damascus, Syria Raja El-Issa – Issa's son, who took manager position of the newspaper after his father's death, he was also the first chairman of the Jordan Press Association in Amman, Jordan in 1956 Daoud El-Issa – Issa's nephew who also had the manager position of the newspaper, established Al-Bilad newspaper in Jerusalem in 1956 and became a member of Jordan Press Association in 1976 Cultural figures Ashraf Barhom – Christian actor from Tarshiha, northern Israel. Edward Said – Palestinian literary theorist, cultural critic, political activist Rosemarie Said Zahlan – historian and writer George Antonius – founder of modern Arab nationalist history Khalil Beidas – scholar, educator, translator and novelist during the Al-Nahda cultural renaissance Khalil al-Sakakini – educator, scholar, poet, and Arab nationalist during the Al-Nahda cultural renaissance Tawfiq Canaan – physician, researcher of Palestinian popular heritage May Ziadeh – poet, essayist and translator during the Al-Nahda cultural renaissance Elia Suleiman – Palestinian film maker and actor Hanna Musleh – Palestinian film maker and university professor Raja Shehadeh – lawyer and writer Rifat Odeh Kassis – human rights activist George Saliba – Professor of Arabic and Islamic Science at the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies, Columbia University, New York, United States Rami George Khouri – journalist and editor Hisham Zreiq – award-winning independent film maker, poet and visual artist Ray Hanania – Palestinian-American journalist also known for his stand-up comedy Joseph Massad – Associate Professor of Modern Arab Politics and Intellectual History in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies at Columbia University Rim Banna – singer, composer, and arranger who is well known for her modern interpretations of traditional Palestinian folk songs Amal Murkus – singer Anton Shammas – essayist, writer of fiction and poetry and translator Fady Andraos