| Founder: | Yousef Nasri Nasser |
| Publisher: | Paul Ajlouny (from 1974) |
| Foundation: | 7 April 1972 |
| Political: | Palestinian nationalism |
| Language: | Arabic |
| Ceased Publication: | July 1993 |
| Headquarters: | East Jerusalem |
| Sister Newspapers: | Al Fajr English |
Al Fajr (Arabic: الفجر|Al-Fajr|The Dawn) was an East Jerusalem-based newspaper which was in circulation from 1972 to 1993. The paper functioned as an unofficial organ of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
Al Fajr was established by Yousef Nasri Nasser in East Jerusalem in 1972.[1] Its first issue appeared on 7 April 1972. The paper came out weekly until 5 June 1974 when its frequency switched to daily. Yousef Nasri Nasser also edited the paper from the outset, until February 1974, when he went missing. Mohammad Batrawi edited Al Fajr until 1976, and then Bashir Al Barghouthi began to serve as its editor-in-chief.[2] Paul Ajlouny was the publisher of the paper who took over it in 1974 after the disappearance of his brother-in-law, Yousef Nasri Nasser.
There was an English edition of the newspaper entitled Al Fajr English was appeared weekly in Jerusalem and Washington, D.C. between 23 April 1980 and 16 August 1993.[3] [4] Bishara Bahbah was the editor-in-chief of both Arabic and English editions of Al Fajr for one year between 1983 and 1984.[5] The paper also had a monthly literary supplement.[4]
Al Fajr was close to the PLO,[6] and some of its contributors were the members of Fatah.[7] Khaled Abu Toameh who is a Palestinian citizen of Israel journalist, and worked for the paper, argued in 2004 that it was strictly controlled by the PLO leader Yasser Arafat's office in Tunisia and that it was like one of the PLO's institutions.[8] The paper was popular among younger people and was close to the Palestinian nationalist political party, Fatah faction within the PLO.[9]
Like other Arabic-language publications in Israel, Al Fajr was subject to increased censorship following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.[10] [11] Israel banned its distribution on the West Bank in July 1982.[11]
Al Fajr folded in July 1993 due to financial problems.[6] Its daily circulation was just 3,000 copies before its closure.[6] Hanna Siniora was the last editor-in-chief of Al Fajr who had held the post since 1978.[6] [12]
The issues of Al Fajr were archived by The Palestinian Museum.[2] The Peace Education Center of Michigan State University archived its issues published between 28 June 1985 and 30 September 1991.[13] The University of Chicago Library also has a partial archive of the paper.[14]