RAMALLAH, Tuesday, November 10, 2020 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas today mourned Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), member of Fatah Central Committee, and a prominent academic who spent his life as a fighter and a hard negotiator defending Palestine, its cause, its people, and its independent national decision.
“The departure of our brother and friend, the great fighter, Dr. Saeb Erekat represents a great loss for Palestine and our people, and we feel deeply saddened by his loss, especially in light of these difficult circumstances facing the Palestinian cause,” said the President.
“Palestine today bids farewell to this patriotic leader and the great fighter who played a big role in raising the banner of Palestine high and defending the rights of our people and their national constants in all international forums, and played a prominent role when he was a member of the Palestinian delegation at the Madrid Conference for peace in 1991, Minister of Local Government, and his tireless work as chairman of the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO, and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council for two consecutive terms, culminating in his tenure as a secretary and member of the PLO’s Executive Committee,” added the President.
“Our people will remember the deceased, Dr. Saeb Erekat, the son of Palestine, who stood at the forefront defending the causes of his homeland and his people in the fields of the national struggle and in the international arena,” he said.
The President offered condolences to the family of Saeb Erekat, his wife, and his sons and daughters.
He also declared a mourning period of three days and flags flown at half-mast.
