Pence: U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem ahead of schedule

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told Israeli officials Monday the U.S. Embassy move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is ahead of schedule and should be completed by the end of 2019. “Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” Pence said in a speech before the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. “In the weeks ahead, our administration will advance its plan to open the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem—and the embassy will open by the end of next year.” President Donald Trump announced last month the United States would recognize Jerusalem, not Tel Aviv, as the capital of Israel and relocate the U.S. Embassy. The move sparked protests in the region because both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Pence originally planned to travel to the Middle East to meet with leaders and quell tension last month but delayed his trip during the Republican Party’s tax reform effort in Congress. The vice president visited Egypt and Jordan before landing in Israel on Sunday evening. Pence plans to have dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening and meet with President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem on Tuesday.