Saeb Erekat’s Coronavirus Symptoms Worsen

A few days ago, it was revealed that the secretary-general of the PLO executive committee and the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, was having a difficult time fighting the symptoms of the coronavirus. On Sunday, however, news emerged that his condition had worsened due to which he had to be rushed to the hospital from his home in Jericho in West Bank. 

Magen David Adom along with the IDF, transferred the chief Palestinian negotiator to the Hadassah University Medical Center, located in Ein Kerem. 

Two weeks ago, Erekat informed the public that he had contracted the coronavirus. As a result, he had also canceled all of his appointments and meetings. Soon after, tweets from his account reported that he was experiencing quite a lot of difficulty due to the symptoms of the virus. This was attributed to his lung transplantation and lack of immunity. 

Back in 2012, the secretary-general of the PLO executive committee had had a mild heart attack. Five years later, he had undergone treatment for a lung transplant after suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for years. Thus, he was categorized as a high-risk on the list of those diagnosed with the coronavirus. 

At the time, he had received wishes from various prominent political figures and the public alike. Later on, he had taken to Twitter and thanked well-wishers wholeheartedly. He had also assured everyone that things were under control and that he was in top-notch health. 

Erekat is one of the main architects of arranging the Oslo peace accords between the PLO and Israel. He has been working as a chief negotiator for Palestine since the year 1995. Even now, he is the senior-most figure in the PLO, especially during the negotiations with Israel. Erekat also plays an important role in the politics of Palestine.