VP Mike Pence finally made his trip to Israel and spoke in the Knesset this morning. As soon as he began speaking, Arab-Muslim lawmakers began protesting, but they were quickly forced out of the Knesset while Pence received a standing ovation from the Israeli lawmakers.
Watch:
Arab lawmakers escorted out of the Knesset after standing up with placards at the start of Vice Pres. Mike Pence’s remarks; Pence received a standing ovation during the commotion. https://t.co/hpi40SeBUl pic.twitter.com/mysiPuahZl
— ABC News (@ABC) January 22, 2018
While Pence was in the Knesset, he made clear that the US embassy will be moved from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of 2019:
JUST IN: Speaking in Israel, Vice Pres. Mike Pence says the U.S. Embassy will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem "before the end of next year." https://t.co/jwauPOcKAH pic.twitter.com/b0zge4T5Qj
— ABC News (@ABC) January 22, 2018
It’s also being reported that when Pence met with King Abdullah from Jordan this weekend, they ‘agreed to disagree’ on the embassy move:
Mike Pence met with King Abdullah II of Jordan, telling reporters afterward that they had "agreed to disagree" on the American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital https://t.co/aGXCEJBp60
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 21, 2018
.@VP gets lectured - politely - by Jordan’s King Abdullah saying Trump’s decision to move embassy to Jerusalem could destabilize region complains that Muslims and Christians have claims to Jerusalem not just Jews calls for 2 state solution
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) January 21, 2018
Jordan urges Vice President Mike Pence to "rebuild trust and confidence" in the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, following fallout from the Trump administration's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital https://t.co/VEFIv4OvkM pic.twitter.com/Dc37KQ04vu
— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 21, 2018
.@VP arrives in Israel after tough talks earlier with Jordan’s King Abdullah objecting to Trump decision to move embassy to Jerusalem. Pence will get warm embrace from Netanyahu but Palestinians refusing to meet with him pic.twitter.com/amHifF8hHV
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) January 21, 2018
No big surprise there.