Pence not welcome in Palestine

ramallah - Mike Pence is not welcome in Palestine for the time being. That is what a high official from government party of President Mahmoud Abbas declared Thursday. The US Vice President would visit the country later this month.

'On behalf of Fatah, I say that we will not receive Trump's deputy on Palestinian territory,' Jibril Rajoub said. 'He had asked for a meeting with Abbas on December 19 in Bethlehem, but that is not going to happen. 'An Abbas spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

Palestine and many other Arab countries were in turmoil on Wednesday by recognizing Donald Trump's announcement of Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel and the American embassy there. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem, occupied by the Israelis since 1967, as their capital.