Salman Natour was born in 1949 in Daliyat al-Karmel. He graduated high school in Haifa and completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Haifa in 1976. He studied philosophy and worked in journalism from 1968 until 1990. He worked as the culture editor of al-Ittihad magazine as well as being editor of the cultural magazine, Al-Jadid. Salman Natour was also active in the establishment and management of a number of institutions including; The Arab Writers Union, The Association for the development of Arab music, I’lam Arab Media Center, Arab and Jewish Artists against the occupation, Adalah - Legal center for Arab Citizens and the Emil Touma Institute for Palestinian & Israeli Studies.

Starting in 2011 Mr. Natour was the project manager of the Mossawa Center’s culture rights project through which he and project staff were able to raise the awareness of the Arab community on their cultural rights and the importance of empowering cultural organizations, in order to preserve and develop Palestinian culture in Israel and in the oPt. The project included a yearly month of cultural events taking place in towns and cities all over the country in March.

Salman Natour has published twenty-eight books many of which were translated to Hebrew as well as six plays. He has also translated several Hebrew works to Arabic such as David Grossman’s, “The Yellow Wind.”

In 2014 Salman Natour was honored for his work at an official ceremony presided over by Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, the Sheikh of Sharja, at the Arab Theatre Festival in Sharjah, UAE. Salman Natour along with a variety of other authors and playwrights from Egypt, Sudan, Syria, Algeria, Tunisia, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Libya, Jordan, accepted awards in honor of their work and contributions to Arab theatre.

The Passing of Salman is a great loss to the world of Arab literature and he will be greatly missed by his colleagues, friends and family. Mossawa extends our condolences to his wife Nada, his children Inas, Eyas, Ghadir and Miras and his grandchildren. We are honored to have had the privilege to work with him and call him our friend.