Zalman Shoval, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States, said Sunday that Israel has long reached out to US Christian groups for support. Pence assured allies of US support for two-state solution if both sides agree.
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The government shutdown entered its second day on Sunday after Senate Republicans and Democrats failed on Friday to meet a midnight deadline to fund the government.
Next week, the former congressman and governor of IN will hold meetings with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and deliver an address to the country’s parliament, the Knesset.
Near the olive grove where Christians believe Jesus agonised before his crucifixion, an American visitor spoke of a decision by US President Donald Trump some believe also holds spiritual importance.
USA -sponsored peace talks collapsed in 2014 and Trump has pledged to pursue a “deal of the century” between Israel and the Palestinians, who are seeking a state in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest barriers to a lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.
“Because of your courage and valor and professionalism, we are driving the evil of ISIS from the face of the earth”, Pence said, later adding: “We will be finished with ISIS very soon”. Pence said he knew the decision would “generate a level of disappointment and a reaction in the region”, but he’s encouraged by “a great deal of restraint shown in Arab countries around the world” in responding to the news, along with efforts to minimize violent protests.
Ayman Odeh said in a tweet that members of his Joint List will boycott the speech.
Those areas are in the jurisdiction of Jerusalem, but are cut off from the rest of the occupied city by Israel’s apartheid wall, which has been under construction since 2002. While he’s expected to be warmly welcomed by Israeli leaders, he won’t meet any Palestinian officials during his trip.
Pence can expect a warm welcome after Trump’s decision on Jerusalem, which Israelis and Palestinians alike interpreted as Washington taking Israel’s side in the dispute over the city. “And I hope I impressed upon King Abdullah our earnest desire to restart the peace process”, Pence said. “I expect the highlight of the visit will be an inspirational and emotional address in the Knesset”.
However, White House officials told Channel 10 that the details Erekat mentioned in his briefing were erroneous.
Israel will not prosecute a guard from its embassy in Amman who killed two Jordanians in July, as had long.
This will be Pence’s fifth visit to Israel, but by his own account he has visited the country “a million times” in his heart.
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After Trump’s December 6 announcement on Jerusalem, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, said he would not receive Pence – and vowed further never again to take part in peace negotiations brokered by the United States. At the time, his visit was declared as “private” in order to avoid any controversy concerning Jerusalem’s status quo.
