Ramallah, Dec 8 (AFP) A senior Palestinian official saidtoday that US Vice President Mike Pence was "not welcome inPalestine" during his upcoming regional visit after a WhiteHouse decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
"The American vice president is not welcome inPalestine," Jibril Rajoub, a senior member of Palestinianpresident Mahmud Abbas's Fatah, told AFP.
Rajoub also signalled that Abbas would not meet withPence during his planned visit later this month.
"And President Abbas will not welcome him because of thestatements he made" about Jerusalem.
Abbas has not made similar comments and his office couldnot immediately be reached.
The White House warned today that cancelling a plannedmeeting between Abbas and Pence in the wake of the US policyshift on Jerusalem would be "counterproductive".
US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem asIsrael's capital on Wednesday in a move that outragedPalestinian leaders, but which was hailed as historic byIsrael.
The move was fully supported by Pence.
Abbas said Trump has disqualified the United States fromits traditional role as peace broker in the Middle Eastconflict.
Pence is expected to visit Israel and the Palestinianterritories sometime before Christmas. (AFP)AQS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.