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Jordan's King Abdullah made a rare visit to the occupied West Bank on Monday, where he met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at his compound in Ramallah.

Abdullah arrived to Abbas' headquarters from Amman by helicopter, where he was greeted by the Palestinian president on the tarmac.

Both countries' national anthems were played at the welcome reception, with Abdullah escorted past the guard by Abbas.

Abdullah's visit appears to be an act of public support for the embattled Palestinian president who has faced criticism over his handling of a crisis that engulfed occupied Jerusalem.

Abbas was in China during the height of the unrest when Palestinians led protests against Israeli restrictions outside the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam.

Twenty Palestinians, including five children, were killed as Israeli troops and protesters clashed, according to the Abdullah al-Hourani Center for Research and Documentation. 

It came after Israel introduced provocative "security measures" at al-Aqsa Mosque, including metal detectors.

Palestinian religious and civil leaders led the protests against the Israeli restrictions with Abbas appearing to be constantly on the back foot.

Israel backed down and dismantled the metal detectors and barriers outside the holy site, with Muslim Palestinian leaders - not Abbas - calling off the boycott.

Jordan is the custodian of the al-Aqsa Mosque and issued angry demands against Israel's restrictions on Palestinian worshippers.

Jordanians organised protests outside the Israeli embassy in Amman.

Two Jordanians were shot dead by an Israeli security detail, with the accused hurried out of the country by Israel despite Jordan's demands he should stand trial for the killings.

The man was given a hero's welcome when he returned to Israel, which further rattled Jordanians and King Abdullah's government.

Jordan is one of only two Arab countries that have official diplomatic relations with Israel.