Pence delays Israel trip for tax overhaul vote

WASHINGTON—Vice President Mike Pence announced Thursday he would delay his trip to Israel until Republicans take their final votes on tax reform. “Yesterday the White House informed Senate leadership that due to the historic nature of the vote in the Senate on tax cuts for millions of Americans, the vice president would stay to preside over the vote,” Pence spokeswoman Alyssa Farah said in a statement. Republicans retain a slim majority in the Senate, 52-48, and Pence could be called on to break a tie when lawmakers gather Monday night. The vice president had planned to depart for the Middle East on Sunday. Instead, he will leave Tuesday and visit Egypt and Israel, meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both leaders have been vocal allies of the Trump administration. Last week, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he would not meet with Pence after President Donald Trump announced plans to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.