 Drawing from the experiences of his family as Palestinian Christians in the Middle East at the time of the establishment of the State of Israel , Said argued for the establishment of a Palestinian state to ensure equal political and human rights for the Palestinians in Israel , including the right of return , by way of U.S. political pressure upon Israel to recognize , grant and respect human rights . In that vein , Said also criticized the political and cultural policies of the Arab and Muslim regimes who acted against the national interests of their peoples . Said remained intellectually active late in life , before dying of leukemia in September 2003 . In a 2001 interview , Said summarized his oppositional role to the status quo , the remit of which is " to sift , to judge , to criticize , to choose , so that choice and agency return to the individual . " He stated his ideal community does not exalt " commodified interests and profitable commercial goals " , but values " survivability and sustainability in a human and decent way " , while acknowledging that " those are difficult goals to achieve . But I think they are achievable . " 
