Pence says US embassy in Jerusalem to open by end of 2019

Urges Palestinians to resume long-stalled peace talks with Israel

JERUSALEM: US Vice President Mike Pence pledged in front of Israeli lawmakers on Monday that the US would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem "by the end" of 2019.

In a speech to parliament he also urged Palestinians to "return to the table" of negotiations and resume long-stalled peace talks with Israel.

Israeli Arab lawmakers ejected while protesting Pence speech

Earlier, Israeli Arab lawmakers were ejected from parliament on Monday as they stood to protest a speech from the rostrum by US Vice President Mike Pence.



Members of the Joint List coalition of Arab parties had pledged to boycott the Pence speech in protest at a December 6 decision by US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

A number of parliamentarians began shouting and holding up protest signs at the beginning of Pence's speech, before ushers pushed them out.