Vice President Mike Pence went on to take his Middle East tour amid government shutdown chaos in the United States. He began his tour in Egypt and is presently in Israel where he arrived on Sunday. Pence landed in Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion airport where he was met by Israel’s tourism minister – Yariv Levin. With no statement issued, he proceeded directly to Jerusalem.
Israel welcomes the visit being the highest level US official to visit the country after President Donald Trump’s 2017 December 6th declaration. Trump declared that the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel; a move that has not set well with the Palestinians. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mike Pence as a great friend while the Palestinians have shunned the visit. Trump’s declaration followed a promise to begin the process of moving the American embassy to Jerusalem; a city whose status is in the middle of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas traveled to Brussels to hold talks with the European Union as it does not recognize Washington as an honest broker in any future negotiations with Israel. His travel to Brussels comes out as a move to undermine Washington’s declaration on Jerusalem. Palestinians have also gone ahead to boycott Pence’s visit.
Mike Pence addressed Knesset in the absence of Arab party members who boycotted the session due to Trumps December 6th declaration. Netanyahu praised Trump’s declaration adding that it will go down in Jewish history. He congratulated Pence for standing and supporting Trump’s decision, especially during the declaration. He welcomed Pence to Israel and thanked the American government for its support. As Mike Pence begun his speech at the Knesset, Palestinian leaders rose up to try and interrupt but were whisked away. Pence confirmed that America indeed acknowledges Jerusalem as the Jewish capital. He also confirmed that the United States Embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Mike Pence reiterated that the United States of America was the first nation to recognize Israel as a state 70 years ago. That by Trump’s declaration, America has right a wrong that was made 70 years ago. He stated that the US made this declaration because it believes in right over wrong, they believe in liberty over tyranny. He assured Israel that America would support a two-sided peace decision between Israel and Palestine. He urged the Palestinians to come back to the negotiating table as peace can only be achieved through dialogue.
