Jerusalem, Jan. 23 (TNS): The US will open its embassy in Jerusalem by the end of 2019, US Vice President Mike Pence said in Israel’s parliament, confirming that the controversial move is speeding up after officials earlier said it could take three to four years.
Pence told Israeli lawmakers that Jerusalem was “the capital of the state of Israel,” reiterating President Donald Trump’s change of policy last month.
At the same time, Trump announced plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city, upending seven decades of US policy.
Both Israelis and Palestinians consider Jerusalem as their capital, and Pence’s address is likely to further rattle the Muslim world.
“In the weeks ahead, our administration will advance its plan to open the United States Embassy in Jerusalem — and that United States Embassy will open before the end of next year,” he said, to rounds of applause.
“I am here to convey a simple message from the hearts of the American people — America stands with Israel.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heaped praise on Pence, thanking him and Trump for their support.
“The United States has no greater friend than Israel. And Israel has no greater friend than the United States of America,” he said.
But not everyone in the Knesset was happy to see Pence. Arab lawmakers staged a protest at the start of his speech and scuffled with security officials before walking out.
One of the lawmakers, Ayman Odeh, called Pence on Twitter “a dangerous racist whose whole reason for being here is in order to damage any chance of peace.
