Israeli parliament in turmoil over US Vice President's speech
Chaos broke out inside the Israeli parliament after some Arab lawmakers expressed discontent when US Vice President Mike Pence spoke about Washington's new policy on Jerusalem.
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| A brawl broke out inside the Israeli parliament while US Vice President Mike Pence was speaking. Photo: Reuters |
According toAljazeera,On January 22, Mr. Mike Pence became the first US Vice President to speak in the Israeli parliament, not long after President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel - a controversial and unprecedented decision.
However, Mr. Pence's speech was interrupted when Arab lawmakers in the Israeli parliament stood up, raised slogans and chanted "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine" to protest Washington's new policy on Jerusalem.
Security forces then ushered these lawmakers out to calm the hall before Mr. Pence continued his speech on some key points in the policy of cooperation between the US and Israel.
In his speech, Mr. Pence also said that President Trump's administration plans to begin moving the embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by the end of next year.
The comments came after President Trump earlier last month, in a controversial and unprecedented move, officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The decision quickly sparked a wave of anger, particularly in the Muslim world.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas has criticized the US president's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital as "the slap of the century".
