Falastin Newspaper Launched in 1911

Why this is here: Albert Einstein once corresponded with the Falastin newspaper after reading an article titled “Relativity and Propaganda” in its pages.

Issa al-Issa and his cousin Yusuf al-Issa founded the Falastin newspaper in Jaffa, Palestine in 1911. The paper quickly became influential in Arab media, reporting on events from the Ottoman era through the British Mandate. It advocated for Arab nationalist thought and warned against the growing Zionist movement in Palestine.

Al-Issa, born in Jaffa to an Orthodox Christian family, began his journalism career as a student. He briefly worked outside of journalism before returning to launch Falastin as a twice-weekly publication. The newspaper expanded to become a daily in 1930 and even published an English-language edition in 1929.

Despite facing closures and exile due to its political stance, Falastin persisted. It documented major events like World War I and the Balfour Declaration.

The paper ultimately ceased publication in 1967 after merging with Al-Manar, but its legacy as a cornerstone of Palestinian journalism remains. Researchers at the Institute for Palestine Studies recognize Issa al-Issa as a leading journalist of the 20th century.