DUBAI, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum received here on Sunday Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and assured him the Gulf Arab state's support for keeping an Arab character in Israeli-occupied east Jerusalem, UAE state news agency WAM reported.
Sheikh Mohammed and his Palestinian counterpart reviewed the ongoing developments in the Palestinian territories, especially the situation regarding the humanitarian conditions in which the Palestinian people are living and the designs of the Zionist elements regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In recent weeks several deadly clashes between Israelis and Palestinians increased instability in East and West Jerusalem. Palestinians regard east Jerusalem which harbours the Al-Aqsa Mosque as the future capital of an independent Palestinian state.
UAE PM Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, affirming the right of the sisterly Palestinian people to life and legitimate rights guaranteed by international laws and the United Nations.
Sheikh Mohammed said that the UAE government and its people stand beside the Palestinian people and extend a helping hand to them, in order to enable them to protect the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem.
Rami Hamdallah extended thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed and to the UAE's wise leadership for its keen interest to provide support and care to Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque and the people of the Palestine in general and their just cause.