美國副總統彭斯訪問以色列，美國耶路撒冷決定成爲焦點
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.以色列總理內塔尼亞胡星期一在耶路撒冷爲到訪的美國副總統彭斯舉行歡迎儀式。以色列是彭斯四天中東之行的最後一站。
彭斯除了進行一系列雙邊會談之外，還要對以色列議會發表講話。
白宮高級官員說，彭斯副總統討論的題目包括美國和以色列的關係、如何抵禦伊朗在中東地區的影響，以及有關敘利亞衝突的戰略。
白宮官員說，彭斯副總統對以色列議會的講話強調他是在耶路撒冷講話。川普總統已經宣佈承認耶路撒冷爲以色列首都。彭斯還計劃說，以色列和巴勒斯坦人現在有一個機會，能夠共同努力，做出必要犧牲，達成多年以來爲之努力的和平協議。
川普總統承認耶路撒冷爲以色列首都的決定受到巴勒斯坦領導人的猛烈批評。巴勒斯坦權力機構主席阿巴斯說，美國已經不能在中東的和平進程發揮作用。
以色列議會中的阿拉伯議員說，他們將抵制彭斯的講話。
彭斯副總統訪問以色列前先訪問了約旦。約旦的阿卜杜拉國王對美國承認耶路撒冷爲以色列首都表示擔憂，呼籲美國在尋求兩國方案的努力中重建信任。
