Amid Arab anger over Jerusalem, US VP sets out on Mideast tour
January 20, 2018  21:12
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US Vice President Mike Pence was in Egypt today to begin a delayed Middle East tour overshadowed by anger in the Arab world over Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Controversy over US President Donald Trump's decision to move the American embassy in Israel to Jerusalem had led to the cancellation of a number of planned meetings ahead of the trip originally scheduled for December.

While the deadly protests that erupted in the Palestinian territories at the time have subsided, concerns are mounting over the future of the UN aid agency for Palestinians. 

The US vice president's press secretary, Alyssa Farah, said he would still meet the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Israel on the high-stakes four-day tour.

Pence is scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi today before travelling to Amman for a one-on-one meeting with King Abdullah II tomorrow.
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