Saeb Muhammad Salih Erekat (April 28, 1955 – November 10, 2020) was a prominent Palestinian politician, diplomat, and negotiator. Born in Jerusalem and raised in Jericho, he earned a BA and MA from San Francisco State University and a PhD in international relations from the University of London. He began his career as a political science professor before entering politics. Erekat served as a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and was the chief negotiator for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from 1995 to 2003, playing a key role in the Oslo Accords and subsequent peace talks with Israel. After briefly resigning in 2003, he was reappointed and continued as a lead negotiator. He served as Secretary-General of the PLO Executive Committee from 2015 until his death. Throughout his career, he engaged with six Israeli prime ministers, advocating for an end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of a Palestinian state. He died in Jerusalem from complications of COVID-19 at age 65 and was buried in Jericho. His legacy is that of a committed bridge-builder in international negotiations, though his tenure faced criticism over the peace process and internal politics.