Former Palestinian PM and negotiator Ahmed Qurei dies aged 85

Qurei held many positions in the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Fatah movement

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 23, 2020 former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei speaks at his office in the West Bank town of Abu Dis. - Qurei died at the age of 86 late on February 22 at in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian president announced. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas (L) pays his respects during the funeral of Mr Qurei in Ramallah on February 22. AFP

An honour guard carries Mr Qurei's coffin, draped in the Palestinian flag. AFP

The funeral took place in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. AFP

Palestinian Authority official Hussein Al Sheikh, right, said of Mr Qurei's death: 'We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.' Reuters

Mr Qurei at a press conference in Abu Dis in the West Bank, near Jerusalem, in January 2011. Reuters

Chief Palestinian negotiator Mr Qurei reads out a statement during a news conference in Cairo in February 2009. Reuters

Mr Qurei at Amman Airport in December 2007. Reuters

Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak (L) talks to Mr Qurei at the White House in Washington in November 2007. Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice are in the background. Reuters

Mr Qurei with Condoleeza Rice in November 2007. Getty

Prime minister Qurei talks to reporters while painting a wall in Gaza in August 2005. Reuters

The Palestinian PM is flanked by bodyguards as he arrives to attend weekly cabinet meeting in Gaza city in July 2005. Reuters

British PM Tony Blair (L), Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (R) and Mr Qurei in Ramallah, December 2004. Reuters

Palestinian president Yasser Arafat with Mr Qurei in Ramallah in July 2004, after the latter had withdrawn his resignation as prime minister. Reuters

Mr Arafat watches as Mr Qurei swears allegiance on the Quran in November 2003. Getty

Mr Qurei sits prepares for a meeting at the Palestinian Legislative Council in September 2003 in Gaza city. Getty

Mr Arafat and Mr Qurei, September 2003. Getty

Former Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Al Alaa, died on Wednesday. He was 85.

Sources close to Mr Qurei's family said he recently suffered from infections that required hospital treatment. He received intravenous antibiotics, but his condition deteriorated overnight.

“With great sadness, we mourn the death of the national leader, Ahmed Qurei, ‘Abu Al Alaa’, who passed away. We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. May his soul RIP,” Palestinian Authority official Hussein Al Sheikh said on Twitter.

Mr Qurei held positions in the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Fatah movement, serving on the PLO Executive Committee, and led the Palestinian Authority team that negotiated with Israel.

As a member of the Fatah Central Committee, Mr Qurei played an important role in the negotiations leading to the 1993 Oslo Accords.

From 1994 to 1996, he served as Minister of Economy and Trade and Minister of Industry in the first Palestinian government.

In 2000, he took part in negotiations at Camp David in the US with Ehud Barak, Israeli prime minister at the time.

Mr Qurei served as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority for two terms between 2003 and 2006.

In 2010, Israel revoked his diplomatic privileges after he suggested the PA would have to use violence if the peace talks failed.

Israeli police arrested him in 2013 at the entrance to the Maaleh Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described Mr Qurei as a "great patriotic fighter" before a ceremony to honour him at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.

"Abu Al Alaa spent his life as a solid fighter defending Palestine, its cause, its people and its independent national decision," Mr Abbas said.

Mr Qurei's body will be taken from Ramallah to his home village of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, where he will be laid to rest after the asr prayer.