Born in Beirut in 1948, he was an outspoken defender of freedom of expression and a sharp critic of dictatorships in the Middle East. Har became known for his support for Palestinians and his harsh criticism of Israel and what he called its “brutal settlement policy” in Palestinian territories.
Elias Khoury taught at universities around the world. In addition to his novels, he wrote articles in various Arab media over the past five decades, making him well known throughout the Arab world.