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[5][6] who served as the 2nd Minister of Agriculture[7] from 1996 to 2002 in Yasser Arafat's third government[1] and later as the 5th Minister of Transportation and Communications from 2003 to 2005 in Ahmed Qurei's second government[2] within the Palestinian National Authority.

[12] Zaid's political affiliations began during his college years at the University of Alexandria in Egypt when in 1963 as a young student from Jenin, he was awarded a scholarship by the Egyptian government to study abroad.

Zaid, who earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural engineering with a specialization in soil chemistry and served as president of the student body, fit the ideal candidate profile.

In this capacity, he tried to strengthen diplomatic ties between the PLO and the Yemeni government, facilitating relief to Palestinian refugees and obtaining Yemen's backing.

[14] In 1994, after returning to Palestine from his diplomatic posts, Arafat, the President of the Palestinian National Authority, appointed him as the first Governor of Jenin since the Israeli occupation in 1967.

[9] His leadership and reputation in Jenin were further enhanced catching the attention of then President of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat[5] who subsequently appointed him as the Minister of Agriculture in 1998 as part of his third government.

[10] However he continued his ministerial position as a senior advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas for governorate affairs [citation needed] Zaid was actively involved in political discussions with rival party Hamas after a year of gruesome fighting and tension in order to restore national Palestinian unity.

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.

[33][34][35] In November 2013, President Abu Mazen retired Zaid and several presidential advisors, including Nabil Amr and Sabri Sedam [ar].

Zaid highlighted challenges within Fatah, including internal conflicts, the participation of Gaza members, and the lack of time to resolve issues before the November 29 seventh conference.

Zaid criticized inefficiencies in addressing organizational problems in both Gaza and the West Bank but noted that preparations for the conference continued to ensure broad representation of Fatah members.

These included a friendly football match between Al-Wehdat SC and Jenin FC honoring retiring player Montaser Al-Samoudi,[36] and the 2008 Palestinian Bodybuilding Federation Championship, which drew over 60 participants.

[38] He also commended the Emirates Red Crescent initiative, which gave food to 4,000 Palestinian families, helping to continuing humanitarian operations in the region.