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Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, photographed from Reuters archives. reuters_tickers
This content was published on November 10, 2020 – 19:11 July
From Ali Sawafta and Nidal al-Maghribi
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Lamentations came from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and from around the world after the death of Saeb Erekat, the main Palestinian negotiator, on Tuesday in Jerusalem from a COVID-19 infection.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas:
“The departure of a brother and friend, the great fighter, Dr. Saeb Erekat, represents a great loss for Palestine and our people, and we are deeply saddened by his loss, especially in light of these difficult circumstances facing the Palestinian cause.” .
Nikolay Mladenov, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
I extend my condolences to the Saeb Erekat family and to the Palestinian people. I have always been (O Erekat) convinced that Israel and Palestine can live in peace, I never lost hope in the negotiations and I defended their people with pride. We will miss you, my friend, rest in peace! “
Statement from the Erekat family:
With hearts filled with sadness and sorrow, and patient souls in mind, the Erekat family everywhere mourns our Palestinian Arab people, our Arab and Islamic nation and the free peoples of the world wherever they find the fighting uncle Saeb Muhammad Saleh Erekat ‘Abu. Ali ‘, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the righteous son of the family. His soul flooded the supreme companion today, as a result of the complications derived from his contagion with the Coronavirus, at age 65, most of which he spent defending the Palestinian cause, freedom, justice and independence.
“In announcing this news, we offer our condolences and condolences to all who knew, knew and loved the deceased.”
* Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister and former envoy of the International Quartet for Peace in the Middle East.
“There were many disagreements between Saeb Erekat and myself about the peace process and how it could be brought to a successful conclusion. But I did not doubt for a moment about his sincerity, his awareness of the matter or his firm and lasting commitment to the Palestinian people and the peace He was a legendary negotiator who knew all the complexes and all the aspects of the “two-state solution.” His farewell is never boring.
“He gave his life for the cause of establishing an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, and it is a tragedy that he did not live to see it happen. But when it comes to pass, people will remember him as one of its greatest architects. I offer my condolences to his family. May he rest in peace. “
* Veteran Palestinian negotiator Dr. Hanan Ashrawi:
Today we mourn the loss of a dear Palestinian colleague and fighter, a man who loved life and fought hard to ensure a life of freedom for himself and his people.
“Personally, I mourn the loss of a friend and colleague with whom I have worked since the 1980s in the pursuit of the inalienable right of our people to life, dignity, justice, liberty and rights, freed from the brutality of Israeli hegemony and military occupation. “
Martin Indyk, Former US Ambassador to Israel:
“Rest in peace, my brother, in peace. Your commitment to seek the freedom of your people by peaceful means will always be a beacon that will guide you forever.”
* Tzipi Livni, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel:
“Saddened by Saeb Erekat’s death. Saeb dedicated his life to his people. He used to say: Achieving peace is my destiny. When he got sick, he texted me: I’m not done with what I was created to do. I offer my sincere condolences to the Palestinians and their family. We will miss him. “
Josep Borrell, head of foreign policy of the European Union:
As a key participant in the negotiations of the Oslo Accords, he has always advocated for a just, lasting and negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the establishment of two states.
“He personally contributed to the development of close relations between the European Union and Palestine. I am grateful to him for his contribution in this regard.”
* Tzachi Hanegbi, Minister of the Israeli government:
“I can express my sorrow for his death. I know that Israel has made a great effort to heal him … I hope that his family does not suffer any other pain.”
Aaron David Miller, Former United States Peace Mediator and Advisor to Several United States Foreign Ministers:
“I regret Saeb Erekat’s departure and offer my condolences to Nimah (his wife) and his children. Saeb has been my friend and partner in negotiations for years. We achieved a goal that I know he deeply believed in: an Israeli peace. Palestinian I will miss him deeply.
“From Madrid to Camp David and then into the early 2000s, each of us often got upset in negotiations. But he never gave up his faith in the possibility of an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He gave his life for it.”
The Israeli left party Meretz:
“Dr. Saeb Erekat has worked his entire life for peace, supported the two-state solution and opposed violence. Now we must continue on his path to a just peace and an end to the conflict.”
Ayman Odeh, head of the unified list that mainly includes the Arab minority in Israel:
“We will remember Saeb Erekat when this great people celebrate victory and celebrate in Jerusalem, the capital. We will remember those who spent their lives for the good of this people and their legitimate rights.”
* Hazem Qassem, spokesperson for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas):
We mourn our Palestinian people for the leader and national fighter, Dr. Saeb Erekat, and extend our condolences to his fellow Fatah Central Committee and President Mahmoud Abbas.
(Reported by Stephen Farrell from Jerusalem and Rami Ayoub from Tel Aviv – Prepared by Muhammad Abd Allah for the Arabic Bulletin – Edited by Yasmine Hussein)
