以色列总理内塔尼亚胡星期一在耶路撒冷为到访的美国副总统彭斯举行欢迎仪式。以色列是彭斯四天中东之行的最后一站。
彭斯除了进行一系列双边会谈之外，还要对以色列议会发表讲话。
白宫高级官员说，彭斯副总统讨论的题目包括美国和以色列的关系、如何抵御伊朗在中东地区的影响，以及有关叙利亚冲突的战略。
白宫官员说，彭斯副总统对以色列议会的讲话强调他是在耶路撒冷讲话。川普总统已经宣布承认耶路撒冷为以色列首都。彭斯还计划说，以色列和巴勒斯坦人现在有一个机会，能够共同努力，做出必要牺牲，达成多年以来为之努力的和平协议。
川普总统承认耶路撒冷为以色列首都的决定受到巴勒斯坦领导人的猛烈批评。巴勒斯坦权力机构主席阿巴斯说，美国已经不能在中东的和平进程发挥作用。
以色列议会中的阿拉伯议员说，他们将抵制彭斯的讲话。
彭斯副总统访问以色列前先访问了约旦。约旦的阿卜杜拉国王对美国承认耶路撒冷为以色列首都表示担忧，呼吁美国在寻求两国方案的努力中重建信任。
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed U.S. Vice President Mike Pence with a ceremony Monday in Jerusalem, as Pence made his latest stop on a four-day tour of the Middle East.
In addition to a series of bilateral talks, Pence is also giving an address to the Knesset.
Senior White House officials said the vice president would be discussing the U.S.-Israeli relationship, ways to counter Iranian influence in the region, and strategy regarding the Syrian conflict.
In the Knesset speech, the officials said Pence would highlight that he was speaking from Jerusalem, in the context of President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He also planned to say there is an open window for both Israelis and Palestinians to get to work and make necessary sacrifices toward a long-sought peace agreement.
Trump’s decision brought sharp criticism from Palestinian leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas who said the United States could no longer play a role in the peace process.
Arab members of parliament have said they will boycott Pence’s speech.
Before traveling to Israel, Pence was in Jordan where King Abdullah expressed concern about the Jerusalem decision and urged the United States to “rebuild trust and confidence” in the search for a two-state solution.