Long-time chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat is in critical condition with coronavirus complications and was placed in a medically induced coma on Monday.
Mr Erekat, 65, was admitted to the coronavirus intensive care unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem on Sunday with "chronic health problems in the respiratory system", the Palestine Liberation Organisation said.
He tested positive for Covid-19 on October 9.
The hospital said Mr Erekat "arrived in serious condition" but was stable and received oxygen on Sunday.
On Monday morning, it said that after a "quiet night" his condition "deteriorated and is now defined critical".
It said that became of respiratory distress Mr Erekat was "anaesthetised and ventilated".
Mr Erekat, who lives in Jericho in the occupied West Bank, underwent lung-transplant surgery in the US in 2017.
"Mr Erekat is a challenge to treat for coronavirus since he had lung transplants, he is immunosuppressed and has another bacterial infection in addition to coronavirus," the hospital said.
It said it was "in contact with international medical authorities regarding the treatment policy of this complex patient".
The PLO secretary general, who was born in Jerusalem, is part of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's inner circle.
He has been a key figure in Palestinian politics for decades, often serving as a main interlocutor for foreign envoys and the international media.
Mr Erekat has consistently voiced support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Another senior PLO official, Hanan Ashrawi, announced she tested positive for the virus on October 11.
There have been 42,490 confirmed cases of the virus in the West Bank and 381 deaths.
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Coronavirus around the world
The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
bundesliga results
Mainz 0 Augsburg 1 (Niederlechner 1')
Schalke 1 (Caligiuri pen 51') Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Miranda og 81')
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
