Umm al-Fahm Celebrates Historian Wajdi Jamil at Book Launch on Unionist Palestinian Unionist

Umm al-Fahm hosted an event on Sunday, October 25, 2026, to celebrate historian and researcher Wajdi Hassan Jamil and launch his new book, "the Palestinian unionist, the First Labor Union Leader, Was He Murdered Unjustly?". The event, organized by the Culture Department of the Community Center-Municipality of Umm al-Fahm in cooperation with the Union of Palestinian Writers-Carmel 48, drew a significant crowd of writers, intellectuals, researchers, unionists, and those interested in Palestinian history.

The evening was moderated by poet Tahani Tamish, who emphasized the importance of celebrating local cultural and research production, particularly studies that document and critically analyze modern Palestinian history using original sources. Mohammad Saleh Aghbariya, Director General of the Community Center, welcomed attendees and highlighted the center's commitment to supporting cultural initiatives that honor the city. Lubaba Sabri, Director of the Culture Department, praised Jamil's book as a valuable addition to Palestinian historical literature.

Mustafa Abd al-Fattah, Secretary General of the Union of Palestinian Writers, lauded the book's significance in preserving national memory and identity, describing culture as the "first line of defense for our existence and identity." He noted that the book sheds light on an authentic Palestinian union experience and the labor movement during a pivotal period. Writer and unionist Jihad Aql discussed the labor aspects of the Palestinian unionist's experience, while poet Amin Zaid Kilani presented a poem.

Jamil, in his address, stressed the importance of writing modern Palestinian history with a critical and documentary approach, stating that historians should examine failures and disagreements alongside achievements. He argued that history encompasses the lives of workers and unions, not just leaders and wars. Jamil explained that his interest in the Palestinian unionist led him to study a broader period of Palestinian history, including the development of the Arab labor movement and the Palestinian Arab Workers Society founded in 1925.

The book examines the assassination of the Palestinian unionist in Haifa on September 12, 1947, presenting various accounts and accusations while analyzing them against contemporary documents and reports. Jamil asserted that disagreements do not justify assassination and that historical research should remain open to critical readings. The book, published in 2026, is based on archival documents, correspondence, reports, and memoirs, and received support from the Palestinian General Union of Workers' Syndicates.