The U.S. Expresses Regret Over Mahmoud Abbas's Decision Not to Meet with Mike Pence

After the Palestinian Authority announced that Mahmoud Abbas would not meet with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to the region, Pence's office expressed regret over the decision. Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to travel to Egypt on Monday. Abbas's spokesperson announced on December 9 that the Palestinian Authority decided not to meet with Pence during the third day of protests in Palestinian territories against the U.S. government's decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem. The U.S. Vice President's office expressed regret on December 10, stating that it is unfortunate that Palestinian officials are unwilling to seize the opportunity to discuss the future of the region. According to Jared E. Agen, the U.S. government will not be discouraged in its efforts to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and our delegation will work hard to formulate a peace plan. According to a previously announced schedule, Pence was supposed to visit Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank at the end of December and meet with Palestinian Authority officials. The Palestinian Authority's decision came after Donald Trump, the U.S. President, recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and prepared to move the U.S. embassy to the city. In addition to Abbas, the leader of Egypt's Coptic Christians and the head of Al-Azhar University, a major Sunni Muslim religious center, also announced they would not meet with Pence in protest against Trump's decision. U.S. officials have emphasized their commitment to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians in recent days. U.S. congressional representatives stated that the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital is merely an acceptance of a reality and does not contradict efforts to achieve lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. On the other hand, Nabil Shaath, a senior adviser to Mahmoud Abbas and a senior official in the organization he leads, told the Times of Israel on Sunday that they do not intend to sever ties with the U.S. and their goal is to protest Trump's action. Mahmoud Abbas is set to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during his trip to Egypt today. Most countries around the world do not recognize Israel's territorial sovereignty over the entire city of Jerusalem. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has controlled the western part of Jerusalem, while the eastern part, which was under Jordanian control until 1967, was occupied by Israel in that year's war. The city contains some of the most important religious sites for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Palestinians and their governing authority hoped that if an independent state were established, its capital would be in East Jerusalem.