The US Vice President Mike Pence postponed his trip to the region until mid-January after senior religious and political leaders refused to meet him after the US recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel.
In a statement on Tuesday Pence’s office claimed that the postponement decision was made because he is needed to preside over the Senate on a sweeping tax overhaul.
“Pence will instead travel to the Middle East mid of January so he can be in the Senate for Tuesday’s expected tax vote” the statement elaborated.
High-level personalities and religious figures including Sheikh of al-Azhar Ahmad al-Tayyeb and Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church Tawadros II as well as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas refused to meet with Pence who was scheduled to travel to Egypt and Israel on Tuesday.
