Washington: The United States accused the Palestinian Authority on Sunday of "walking away" from a chance to discuss peace in the Middle East by snubbing Vice President Mike Pence on an upcoming visit.
A top official in Pence's office said the vice president was looking forward to meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi when he travels to region later this month.
But he appeared to confirm that Pence would not be meeting anyone from Palestinian Authority which has reacted angrily to last week's US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
"The President (Donald Trump) has asked Vice President Pence to go to the region to reaffirm our commitment to work with partners throughout the Middle East to defeat radicalism that threatens the hopes and dreams of future generations," Jarrod Agen, Pence's deputy chief of staff, said in a statement.
"The Vice President very much looks forward to traveling to the region to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President al-Sisi. It's unfortunate that the Palestinian Authority is walking away again from an opportunity to discuss the future of the region."
Agen said that the Trump administration nevertheless "remains undeterred in its efforts to help achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians and our peace team remains hard at work putting together a plan".
Speaking earlier Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the US decision on Jerusalem could hinder the Trump administration's own push for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Speaking on CNN, Guterres said he was pleased that Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner had been meeting with Israelis and Palestinians on a new peace plan after years of stalemate in the process.
"I think that the decision that was taken on Wednesday risks to compromise this effort," he added.
A top official in Pence's office said the vice president was looking forward to meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi when he travels to region later this month.
But he appeared to confirm that Pence would not be meeting anyone from Palestinian Authority which has reacted angrily to last week's US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
"The Vice President very much looks forward to traveling to the region to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President al-Sisi. It's unfortunate that the Palestinian Authority is walking away again from an opportunity to discuss the future of the region."
Advertisement
Speaking earlier Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the US decision on Jerusalem could hinder the Trump administration's own push for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Advertisement
"I think that the decision that was taken on Wednesday risks to compromise this effort," he added.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Vice President Mike Pence Calls Successor Kamala Harris, Offers Assistance: Report "Not Taking Covid Vaccine If Trump Tells Us To Take It": Kamala Harris US Vice President Mike Pence Tests Negative For COVID-19 Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage 32 Dead In Bangladesh Unrest, Protesters Set Fire To State TV Headquarters Comedy Legend Bob Newhart Dead At 94: Publicist Israeli Strike Kills Field Commander In Elite Hezbollah Unit: Report Delhi-San Francisco Air India Flight Diverted To Russia After Engine Glitch Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.