Mike Pence at a podium

US Vice President’s plans to help Middle East Christians overshadowed by political storm

US Vice President Mike Pence’s postponed trip to the Middle East goes ahead this weekend amid myriad tensions and a fast-shifting diplomatic landscape.

Mr Pence’s trip is a shortened version of the one planned for last month, which was abruptly cancelled when protests erupted at President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The Vice President will meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II on 20th January, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem the next day.

“At President Trump’s direction, the vice president is travelling to the Middle East to reaffirm our commitment to work with the US’s allies in the region to defeat radicalism that threatens future generations,” Mr Pence’s spokeswoman, Alyssa Farah, said.

However, Palestinian leaders and the Coptic Pope have refused to meet Mr Pence, and the West Bank leg of his trip is no longer on his itinerary.

 

Read the full article at Sight Magazine.