For a very long time, the goal of the Palestinian national struggle has been the ultimate freedom from the illegal Israeli occupation. The Palestinians' resistance has taken many forms, including literature. Many Palestinian writers have used the power of words to fight against Israeli oppression. Amongst those writers are: Edward Said (1935-2003) Palestinian American academic, liberation activist, and literary critic who examined literature in light of social and cultural politics. He was an outspoken proponent of the rights of Palestinians and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. One of his important works was Orientalism 1978. A critique of the West's historical, cultural, and political perceptions of the East has become a modern classic. Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008) Darwish and his family were considered "internal refugees". He lived for many years in exile in Beirut and Paris. He wrote over 30 works that included both poetry and prose and earned the Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize, the Lenin Peace Prize, and the Knight of Arts and Belles Letter's Medal from France. He also wrote Why Did You Leave the Horse Alone? 1995. Ghada Karmi (1939-) Born in Jerusalem and was forced to leave her home with her family as a result of Israel's creation in 1948. The family moved to England in 1949. She practiced as a doctor and worked as a specialist in the health of migrants and refugees. Her work In Search for Fatima A Palestinian Story 2002 is considered one of the most important works that depicts the Palestinian diaspora.
