Veteran negotiator and international spokesperson for the Palestinians for more than thirty years, Saeb Erekat, has died. The 65-year-old, one of the most prominent veterans of the Palestinian cause, died just weeks after having contracted the coronavirus.

Arab News reports that Erekat was involved in nearly every round of peace negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians. He was a constant presence in Western media and had   constantly advocated for a negotiated two-state solution. When Israel and the United Arab Emirates recently agreed to normalize ties, Erekat was concerned that this would kill the two-state solution,……and undermine the “possibility of peace”. According to Arab News, Erekat had consistently defended the Palestinian leadership and blamed Israel for the failure to reach an agreement.

Erekat’s death was announced in a statement by his Fatah Party. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called his deat  passing of “a brother and friend .. a huge loss for Palestine and our people”. Former Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, said the Palestinian negotiator “dedicated his life to his people”. Livni tweeted: “Reaching Peace is my destiny, (Erekat) used to say.” Meanwhile,  Arab-Israeli lawmaker Ayman Odeh, said: “Saeb won’t get to see his people freed from the occupation, but generations of Palestinians will remember him as one of the giants who dedicated his life for their independence.”

Erekat is survived by his wife, two sons, twin daughters and eight grandchildren.

Umm Muhammed Umar