Hikmat Zaid

Former Minister Hikmat Zaid
Abu Zaid in 2002
Member of the Fatah Advisory Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 2008
President	Mahmoud Abbas
Member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council
Incumbent
Assumed office 1988
Presidential Advisor for Governorate Affairs
In office 2006 – 30 November 2013
President	Mahmoud Abbas
2nd Agriculture Minister
In office 9 August 1998 – 13 June 2002 Acting: 2004–2005
President	Yasser Arafat
Prime Minister	Ahmed Qurei
Preceded by	Abdul Jawad Saleh
Succeeded by	Rafiq Al-Natsheh
5th Transport Minister
In office 11 November 2003 – 24 February 2005
President	Yasser Arafat (until November 2004) Rawhi Fattouh (acting until January 2005) Mahmoud Abbas (after January 2005)
Prime Minister	Ahmed Qurei (after November 2004)
Preceded by	Abdulrahman Hamad
Succeeded by	Saadeddin Kharma
1st Governor of Jenin
In office November 1995 – 24 November 1996
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Zuhair Al-Manasra
Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council
In office 1996 won Jenin as Independent – 2006 lost Jenin as Fatah
Ambassador to Hungary
In office 1985–1995
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Zuhair Al-Manasra
Ambassador to Yemen Arab Republic
In office 1979–1985
Deputy PLO Representative to Moscow
In office 1979–1977
Personal details
Born	(1945-08-09) 9 August 1945 Silat al-Harithiya, Jenin, Mandatory Palestine
Nationality	Palestinian
Political party	Fatah(1975–1996, 1998-Present)
Spouse	Itidal Zaid
Children	Hadil Zaid Hisham Samer
Residence(s)	Ramallah, State of Palestine
Alma mater	Alexandria University
Profession	Agricultural Engineering
Religion	Sunni Islam

Hikmat Hashim Lotfi Zaid Al-Kilani (Arabic: حكمت هاشم لطفي زيد الكيلاني, romanized: Ḥikmat Hāshim Luṭfī Zayd al-Kīlānī, born 9 August 1945) also known by his kunya Abu Zaid (Arabic: ابو زيد, romanized: Abū Zayd), is a Palestinian politician and former minister who has served as a member of the Fatah Advisory Council since 2008. He has previously held numerous executive, legislative, and diplomatic positions within the Palestinian National Authority.

Early life and education

Hikmat Zaid was born in Silat al-Harithiya, a village 10 kilometres northwest of Jenin in 1945. He traveled to Egypt where he was given the chance to study abroad for free by the Egyptian government in 1963. He served as student body president and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in agricultural engineering specializing in soil chemistry, and obtained membership to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) through its youth programs as third generation leaders recruited on campus. While in exodus, Zaid made Amman his primary residence while spending most of his time abroad in diplomatic missions for the PLO. The Abu Nidal Organization, a splinter group from the PLO made threats to assassinate PLO members such as Zaid, but did not follow through on their threats. This made his career involved in navigating complex political landscapes and often dangerous circumstances.

Career

Early political career

Whilist the PLO were in exile for decades after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Abu Zaid headed several diplomatic missions from the late 60s to the 90s, serving ambassadorial duties to Moscow, Sanaa and Budapest. Abu Zaid eventually returned to Palestine in 1995 after the signing of Oslo Peace Accords, visiting several major cities including his birthplace and hometown Silat al-Harithiya in Jenin.

Hikmat Zaid in 2015

Rise to power

Abu Zaid ran successfully as an independent candidate for Jenin—the city from which he was born and raised—in the 1996 Palestinian legislative elections achieving 14220 votes. He also became the first Governor of Jenin for some time before being appointed by Yasser Arafat to his third government serving as the minister of agriculture in 1998.

Hikmat's quick ascension to political power belies his opposition to several of Arafat's efforts leading to his dismissal by Abu Ammar. After the 2004 reshuffling of the cabinet, Zaid was appointed as the minister of transportation after a power struggle between Abbas and Arafat, a position he kept until 2005 following complete transition of power to Mahmoud Abbas following Yasser Arafat's death.

Minister of Agriculture

During his reign as the minister of agriculture, Abu Zaid imposed an embargo on a wide list of agricultural products from Israel in response to a 10-month blockade on Palestinian movement into Israel. According to him "This measure aims to denounce the destruction of Palestinian agriculture by Israel through the blockade of Palestinian territories. Bananas, mangoes, melons, pears, apples, poultry, eggs, cattle, and dairy goods, with the exception of milk, were among the items boycotted.

Palestinian Agriculture Minister Hikmat Zeid met his Israeli Agriculture Minister counterpart Shalom Simhon on 21 August to discuss the Palestinian Authority's ban on Israeli agricultural products. The ban was imposed due to Israeli military actions causing severe damage to Palestinian agriculture. Zeid indicated the ban could be lifted if the Israeli army allows free movement for Palestinian farmers and workers. Simhon plans to advocate for this with the Israeli Defense Ministry. Israel exports 11,000 tons of produce to Palestinian territories monthly and imports 7,000 tons from them. The blockade on the West Bank and Gaza has been in place since the Al-Aqsa Intifada began.

Palestinian Agriculture Minister Hikmat Zeid stated that Israeli military operations have caused over $500 million in damages to Palestinian agriculture, including the destruction of over half a million trees, fertile land, wells, and irrigation systems since 2000. These actions have worsened food insecurity and devastated agricultural production, valued at $700 million. Zeid appealed to Arab agriculture ministers for help, noting the ministry's efforts since 1994 to rehabilitate the sector, which were undone by the conflict. He emphasized that these actions have increased unemployment and pushed over 50% of Palestinians below the poverty line.

Abu Zaid is locally considered as the spiritual father of the Ministry of Agriculture. Despite the tumultuous political climate, including direct invasions of his ministry, Zaid remained dedicated to peaceful and pragmatic solutions.During his term, he assisted agricultural engineers, built regional headquarters for farmer services, and broadened agricultural land policy. He formalized ministry operations, collaborated with non-governmental and international groups, and increased personnel support and training. His administration gave significant assistance to those affected by agriculture and encouraged international cooperation, resulting in unprecedented external funding for the industry. His basic achievements continue to inspire successive administrations, demonstrating his vision and dedication. Even after the construction of settlements, destruction of trees and farms, confiscation of land, imposing siege, cutting off water supplies, deportation and other economic and security measures in the West Bank.

Abu Zaid ran again this time under Fatah's banner as part of their revolutionary council, but failed to defend his seat in the legislative elections; lost by a 3250 margin whilist gaining 23800 votes. He was however later on appointed to the Advisory Council of Fatah by Abu Mazen, and later on his very own presidential advisor for governorate affairs.

Advisory Role

Abu Zaid has been actively involved in political discussions and played a significant role in various political delegations and has held multiple advisory positions within the Palestinian political framework. Abu Zaid chaired the first official Fatah visit in over a year since the Fatah–Hamas conflict to Gaza Strip on 16 June 2008 coming from the city of Ramallah via the Beit Hanoun crossing (north of the Gaza Strip). and welcomed dialogue for efforts aimed at restoring Palestinian unity with senior Hamas delegation including Ahmed Yousef and Ghazi Hamad but not with then de-facto Prime Minister—and leader—of Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh as Fatah does not recognize it legitimate. Some websites went on to cite credible sources who claimed that the security services intended to arrest Abu Zaid awaiting an investigation. But this was quickly dismissed when Ihab Al-Ghussein, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior in Gaza, denied such allegations in a press conference to the Palestinian Media Center. Taher al-Nunu, the spokesman for the dismissed Hamas government at the time, announced on Sunday the statements made by Hikmat Zeid, the advisor to the Palestinian president, about his unwillingness to meet with Ismail Haniyeh are contrary to the truth and that no official meeting was scheduled between both parties.

Hikmat Zaid (right) and Marwan Abdulhamid (left) in 2008

Abu Zaid also played a significant role by focusing on community engagement by visits to various villages and meetings with local leaders demonstrating his intent to solve local issues. Additionally, his statements about pushing for the Sixth Fatah General Assembly Conference—the first since 20 years— which can serve a platform for Fatah to reinforce its position, unify its ranks, and prepare for the approaching elections as well as the importance of dialogue with Hamas that reflect ongoing political dynamics and the broader push for unity and democratic processes within the Palestinian territories

Abu Zaid stated that his movement's delegation has no objections to meeting with any party in Gaza, but that the purpose of the visit is to "clarify President Abu Mazen's initiative to restore unity and unify the Palestinian ranks" and that he hopes for "everyone's cooperation," an implicit reference to Hamas. Zaid said that the team will meet "with all active forces in this country and any party that wants to meet with us to discuss any issues," adding that the Palestinian president will visit Gaza "very soon."

In November 2013, Abu Mazen issued a decree refferring Presidential Advisor for Governorate affairs Abu Zaid and several other presidential advisors including Nabil Amr and Sabri Sedam into retirement from their advisory roles while still maintaining his place in the Fatah Advisory Council.

Hekmat Zaid, a member of the Fatah Advisory Council, discussed several organizational and political issues within the movement in an interview with Dunya Al Watan. He noted that the council, despite preparing various proposals and studies, is often not consulted or involved in decision-making. The meeting included discussions on the upcoming seventh conference and related organizational matters, but key issues like appointing a vice president were not addressed.

Zaid highlighted the challenges Fatah faces, particularly regarding the participation of Gaza-based members and ongoing internal conflicts. He expressed concerns about the limited time to resolve these issues before the conference scheduled for November 29. Zaid criticized the lack of consultation with the advisory council and the inefficiency in addressing organizational problems in both Gaza and the West Bank. Despite these challenges, efforts continue to prepare for the conference and ensure comprehensive representation of Fatah members.

Personal life

Hikmat Zaid has four children, a daughter three sons.

See also

• List of Fatah members
• Palestinian Legislative Council
• Politics of Palestine