Zaqtan was born in 1954 near Bethlehem. He obtained a teachers' training degree from Jordan. He is the co-editor of the literary review Macharef, and now works at the Palestinian Ministry of Culture. He has published a number of poetry collections, and his first novel in 1995. His poetry abounds with luminous imagery , ranging in topics from life and death to the particular themes running through contemporary life.

(poetry translations)