Qatar, Palestine leaders discuss US Jerusalem move

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA

Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held talks on Sunday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss developments in the Palestinian territories.

Abbas briefed the Qatari emir on Palestinian measures to confront a U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and ways to protect East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque against Israeli violations, the official QNA news agency reported.

Tamim, for his part, reiterated his country’s support for the Palestinians “in taking all necessary measures for the protection of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem”, it added.

Abbas arrived in Doha on Saturday for talks with Qatari officials.

The U.S. policy reverse on Jerusalem has triggered a storm of condemnations and protests in the Palestinian territories and several Arab and Muslim countries.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA

Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held talks on Sunday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss developments in the Palestinian territories.

Tamim, for his part, reiterated his country’s support for the Palestinians “in taking all necessary measures for the protection of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem”, it added.

Abbas arrived in Doha on Saturday for talks with Qatari officials.

The U.S. policy reverse on Jerusalem has triggered a storm of condemnations and protests in the Palestinian territories and several Arab and Muslim countries.