After announcing the United States would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem by the end of 2019, Vice President Mike Pence wraps up a four-day Middle East trip Tuesday by meeting with Israel's president and making visits to a Holocaust remembrance center and the Western Wall.
"In the weeks ahead, our administration will advance its plan to open the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and that United States Embassy will open before the end of next year," Pence said, addressing the Knesset, Israel's lawmaking body, in Jerusalem.
"Jerusalem is Israel's capital and, as such, President Trump has directed the State Department to begin initial preparations to move our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem," he added.
Trump's decision parted from longstanding U.S. policy that left the status of Jerusalem as an issue to be resolved during negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had previously said the embassy relocation would likely take years. But on Monday, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert confirmed the administration "will advance its plan to open the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and will open the embassy before the end of the year." Nauert noted in the written statement that Tillerson "has been clear that safety and security is his top priority."
Netanyahu thanked Trump and Pence for what he called the "historic statement" and declared the U.S.-Israel relationship has "never been stronger." He later told reporters that the sooner the Palestinians "accept the truth" about Jerusalem, the sooner the two sides can reach an agreement "that will create a better future for both our peoples."
Palestinian leaders have been sharply critical of Trump's decision. A group of Arab lawmakers greeted Pence's Knesset speech with protests and signs that said, Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine," before being removed from the chamber.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat called Pence's words "a gift to extremists" and proof that the Trump administration "is part of the problem rather than the solution."
"His message to the rest of the world is clear: violate international law and resolutions and the U.S. will reward you," Erekat said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said after Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem that the United States could no longer play a role in the peace process.
Before traveling to Israel, Pence was in Jordan where King Abdullah expressed concern about the Jerusalem decision and urged the United States to "rebuild trust and confidence" in the search for a two-state solution.
King Abdullah said the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the two-state solution long sought by the international community, and that East Jerusalem must be the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Pence said the two countries had agreed to disagree on the Jerusalem issue.
"Friends occasionally have disagreements, and we agreed to disagree on recognizing Jerusalem. We agreed all parties need to come to the table. I hope I impressed on him our earnest desire to restart the peace process," Pence told reporters after the meeting.
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