Literatureרייצ'ל שאבי

Rachel Shabi

Rachel Shabi is a British-Israeli journalist and author who wrote the book We Look Like the Enemy about Israel's Jews from Arab lands.

born 1973Writing for The GuardianBook on Israel's Jews from Arab landsMiddle East reporting

Born: 30 March 1973, Ramat Gan
Occupation: writer, journalist
Education: University of Edinburgh

Rachel Shabi was born in 1973 in Ramat Gan

Rachel Shabi was born in Ramat Gan in 1973 to Iraqi Jewish parents. She grew up in the United Kingdom. She studied politics and literature at the University of Edinburgh.

Shabi is a journalist based in the UK. She has reported from the Middle East, including on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and from Tunisia and Egypt. She also writes about progressive politics, the far right, counter-extremism and migration, and appears as a commentator on international news channels.

She has written for The Guardian, The New York Times, The Independent, Al Jazeera English and other publications. Her 2009 book argues that Israel discriminated against its Jews from Arab and Muslim countries and stripped them of their culture. The book received a National Jewish Book Award.

Shabi identifies as an Arab Jew. In March 2025 she signed an open letter to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy asking the British government to pressure Israel to end the Gaza war.

Rachel Shabi's life in 6 milestones

1973
Born in Ramat Gan.
2009
Published her book We Look Like the Enemy.
2011
Shortlisted for the Orwell journalism prize and joint winner of the Anna Lindh Journalist Award.
2013
Won the International Media Awards' Cutting Edge Media award.
2017
Placed at No. 30 on Iain Dale's list of influential people on the left.
2025
Signed an open letter calling on Britain to pressure Israel to end the Gaza war.