Al Karmel
Arabic literary magazine (1981–2008)
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Al Karmel was a literary magazine which existed between 1981 and 2008. The magazine is known for its founder and editor Mahmoud Darwish, a Palestinian writer. It was based in various cities during its run.
History and profile
Al Karmel was established by Mahmoud Darwish in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1981.[1] Darwish edited the magazine until his death.[1][2] Its publisher was Al Karmel Cultural Foundation.[1] Elias Khoury was the editor of the magazine between 1981 and 1982.[3]
Following the Palestine Liberation Organization's departure from Beirut in 1982 the magazine's headquarters moved to Nicosia, Cyprus, where it was printed until 1996.[4][5] The associate editor of the magazine when it was headquartered in Nicosia was Salim Barakat, a Syrian writer.[6] Next Darwish published the magazine in Paris.[4] Then it was restarted in Ramallah, Palestine.[5][7]
Darwish published many poems in Al Karmel, including prose poems.[2] One of his prose poems was about the events occurred on 6 June 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon and was featured in the magazine in 1986.[8] Edward Said was a regular contributor of the magazine, and through his literary critics Said became known in the Arab world.[9] Said's contributions also made Mahmoud Darwish's poems much more eminent.[9] Arab and Israeli writers contributed to the title in addition to international ones such as Russell Banks, J. M. Coetzee and José Saramago.[5] The magazine featured short stories and essays written by the Palestinian writer Asia Shibli.[10]
The headquarters of Al Karmel in Ramallah was destroyed by the Israeli army in April 2002.[5]
Al Karmel folded in 2008.[9]