A White House official warned on Thursday, December 7, about the potential decision by Palestinian officials to cancel the meeting between Mike Pence, the Vice President of the United States, and Mahmoud Abbas, stating that such an action would be 'counterproductive.' According to the Associated Press, after Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Jibril Rajoub, a senior official of the Fatah party and close to Mahmoud Abbas, urged Arab countries to refrain from welcoming Mike Pence during his visit to the region. Rajoub also stated that no one in Ramallah would 'welcome' Mike Pence. According to Politico and other American media, a White House official said, 'Mike Pence still intends to meet with (Mahmoud Abbas) and Palestinian leaders; any decision to cancel this meeting would be a counterproductive move.' Meanwhile, Mahmoud Abbas and his office have not yet commented on this matter. Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Israel on December 16 and 17 (in 9 days) and will speak in the Israeli parliament. Mahmoud Abbas had previously welcomed Trump during his visit to the region, but after Trump recognized Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as the capital of Israel, Palestinian groups strongly criticized this move. Abbas stated that the U.S. can no longer play a role in efforts to achieve peace. Meanwhile, Hamas called on Palestinian groups on Thursday to withdraw from the peace negotiations with Israel and to initiate a new uprising and 'intifada' against Israel. Palestinian groups have also called for protests on 'Day of Rage' on Friday. Hospital officials reported that at least 31 people were injured during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces on Thursday in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.S. President recognized Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as the capital of Israel on Wednesday, December 6, in a historic speech despite regional opposition. This change in U.S. policy regarding Jerusalem comes as the international community has expressed serious concerns about this possibility. Reuters reports that recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli government, given the city's significance for Muslims and Christians, represents a strategic shift in U.S. policy regarding Middle East peace that could have regional and global repercussions. Israel considers Jerusalem its capital, while Palestinians want the eastern part of Al-Quds, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, to be declared the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
A White House Official: Canceling the Meeting Between Pence and Mahmoud Abbas is Counterproductive
A White House official criticized the potential cancellation of a meeting between Vice President Mike Pence and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling it counterproductive. This follows Trump's controversial recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, which has heightened tensions and led to calls for protests among Palestinians. The situation underscores the fragility of U.S.-Palestinian relations and the ongoing conflict over Jerusalem.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A White House official warned that canceling a meeting between Mike Pence and Mahmoud Abbas would be counterproductive. This follows Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, which has led to increased tensions.
- Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital on December 6.
- Palestinian groups have called for protests and a 'Day of Rage'.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Jerusalem is a holy city for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, making its status a central issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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