Lebanon calls for Arab solidarity to save Jerusalem

BEIRUT, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday called for Arab solidarity to save Jerusalem, hailing the Palestinians for their patience and steadfastness against all plots.

"Arab solidarity today is an urgent need to save Jerusalem," Hariri said during the launching of "the Key Findings of the National Census of Population and Housing in Palestinian Camps and Gatherings in Lebanon" at the Grand Serail.

"We Lebanese, who are always in solidarity with Palestine, with Jerusalem, with our Palestinian brothers, consider that it is our duty as a state to deal with the problems that the Palestinian refugees are facing in our country," Hariri said.

The prime minister said that he would like to pay special tribute to the Palestinian brothers, the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people, for their patience and steadfastness against all plots including the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

"This decision is a gift for the extremists, a hindrance to the peace process and a factor that raises tension in the region," Hariri said.

On Dec. 6, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and will move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, triggering large-scale outrage in the Arab and Muslim world. Enditem