Abbas snubs US Vice President Pence over Jerusalem switch

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will no longer meet US Vice President Mike Pence at some stage in the latter’s visit to the discipline this month, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki has acknowledged.

The snub over the US’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital came after Egypt’s Coptic Church on Saturday also cancelled an upcoming assembly with Pence in yelp against Washington’s switch on Jerusalem.

The coverage alternate can even seek the US embassy to Israel switch from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a call that has sparked anger and protests all the blueprint in which by the occupied Palestinian territories, and drawn condemnation from world leaders.

On Thursday, a day after US President Donald Trump formally made the announcement, Jibril Rajoub, a senior Fatah flesh presser, acknowledged « we won’t receive him [Pence] in the Palestinian territories ».

Pence’s visit to the discipline entails stops in Egypt, Israel and the West Bank, the White Dwelling acknowledged in October. The vice president was as soon as scheduled to meet Abbas in Bethlehem on December 19.

« Within the name of Fatah I reveal that we are going to no longer welcome Trump’s deputy in the Palestinian territories. He asked to meet (Abbas) on the nineteenth of this month in Bethlehem, one of these assembly will no longer happen, » Rajoub acknowledged.

On Wednesday, as Trump made his announcement, he spoke about Pence’s visit in his speech, with the vice president at his facet.

Trump gave an announcement recognising Jerusalem because the capital of Israel as he appeared with Vice President Mike Pence at his facet in the White Dwelling on December 6 [Reuters/Jonathan Ernst]

« Vice President Pence will streak to the discipline in the impending days to reaffirm our dedication to work with companions all the blueprint in which by the Heart East to defeat radicalism that threatens the hopes and goals of future generations, » Trump acknowledged.

‘Conterproductive’

A White Dwelling real, speaking on situation of anonymity, told Al Jazeera on Friday that Pence aloof « intends » to meet Abbas, noting it « might maybe maybe be counterproductive » for the Palestinian chief to abolish the assembly.

One by one, Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian chief negotiator, told Al Jazeera on Friday that Palestinians will no longer seek advice from the US till Trump has reversed his choice.

He acknowledged the Palestinian leadership was as soon as concerned about all alternate solutions in accordance with Trump’s announcement.

Trump’s embassy switch has inflamed the Israel-Palestine war, in which the role of Jerusalem is a key field. The Palestinians seek occupied East Jerusalem because the capital of their future speak.

In saying the embassy switch, Trump acknowledged he remained « deeply dedicated » to finding a peace settlement, noting that the US « would purple meat up a two-speak resolution if agreed to by every facet ».

Abbas lately met Jordan’s King Abdullah II, after which they issued a joint speak noting that « any measure tampering with the lawful and historical role of Jerusalem is invalid » and warning of the « dreadful » repercussions of the embassy switch.

On Sunday, violence erupted for a fourth day in the occupied Palestinian territories in accordance with Trump’s announcement. Witnesses acknowledged Israeli forces fired fling gasoline canisters at groups of rallying adolescence in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem.

The protests came after Israeli air strikes killed two Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday after opponents reportedly fired rockets from Gaza into Israel on Friday.