Of all the Arab and regional issues, the UAE is giving an exceptional priority to the Palestinian cause. The various historical stages that the cause went through since 1948 make this clear. Figures and statistics indicate that the UAE donations to the Palestinian people during the last five years (2012-2017) were about 1.68 billion dollars. These donations were mainly in support of public programs worth 647.7 million dollars by 38%, assistance to the education sector worth 348.5 million dollars by 21%, assistance for the social services sector amounting to 297.6 million dollars by 18%, and Commodity aid valued at $ 128.4 million by 8%, and health assistance of $ 126 million by 7%.
The UAE has been a major donor for the Palestinian people over the past years. I have already published a scientific research on the subject. The Emirati wise leadership has long given priority to the Palestinian cause.
Implementing the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has donated AED258 million towards supporting the Palestinian people. The two-part aid; the first valued at AED74 million (US$20 million) will be allocated to the Islamic Waqf Support Program in Jerusalem to preserve the Arab-Islamic identity of the city. The second, valued at AED184 million (US$50 million) will be dedicated to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
The move is not only reflecting the steadfast positions of the UAE but is also an implementation of the conventions of the Jerusalem Summit in Dhahran. The summit represented a unified Arab stance to support the Palestinian people and defend Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital.
Supporting the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf to preserve the Arab Islamic identity of the city is no less important than supporting the UNRWA. The move will ensure that students can have access to basic education in a suitable school environment. The UNRWA schools can guarantee the rights of Palestinian students in education. This contribution came at a time where the agency is experiencing a financial deficit seriously affecting its programs and operational projects for Palestine refugees.
The UAE’s support for the Palestinian cause and the Saudi generous donation, announced by King Salman in his speech at the opening of the Jerusalem Summit, have refuted the allegations and falsehoods echoed by the Qatari-Iranian media outlets. The seditious media outlets have claimed that the Arab concern is no longer focused on the Palestinian cause. This kind of media seeks to spread chaos and instability in the region.
The Jerusalem Summit has confirmed that Jerusalem and the Palestinian cause have long been central to the Arab world. Confronting the Iranian threat will never replace the Palestinian cause. The Emirati leadership and people are keen to support all Arab issues. The UAE will do what it takes to achieve the restoration of legitimate Arab rights and the establishment of a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital.
The UAE position clearly exposed the approach of spreading sedition and attempts to differentiate between the Arabs. The UAE and SA have not only made strong political support but went far to provide financial support, facing plans of sedition in the region.
Jerusalem is the first of the two Qiblas, the third of the two Holy Mosques and the location of Prophet Muhammad’s journey. No one needs to remind the UAE of its duty towards it. Jerusalem will never be out of the priorities of the Emirati leadership and people.
The UAE has long been supporting the unity of Arabs and humanity. It will never take part among those calling for abandoning the Palestinian cause. The wise Emirati leadership inherited the principles of the late founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The UAE is aware that the strength of the Arabs is in their unity and cohesion. The Arab people are suffering fragmentation because of Iran’s agents, in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.
