WASHIGNTON, December 19, 2017 (WAFA) – United State Vice President Mike Pence has postponed his controversial visit to the Middle East planned for this week but US special peace envoy Jason Greenblatt is still coming, a White House official said on Monday.

The official claimed that Pence, who was facing strong calls for boycott during his visit to Egypt and Israel and who has been shunned by the Palestinians, has deferred his visit to January because of internal US matters.

“Since the tax vote could possibly take place shortly before midnight on Wednesday, it was not practically possible for the Vice President to travel this week,” said the White House official.

“He would have arrived in Egypt late on Thursday night and then would have run up against Shabbat and Christmas for his visit to Israel. Therefore, to get the most out of the trip, the Vice President will now be traveling in mid-January. Jason Greenblatt is still headed to Israel as planned to continue working on the Administration’s peace efforts.”

The Palestinian Authority said it was not going to meet with Pence during his trip that was going to include a visit to Bethlehem, Christ’s birth place, and a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas.

However, after a Palestinian decision not to meet with US officials following the US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on December 6, the visit to Bethlehem was cancelled before the entire visit was postponed.

Palestinians have also planned to hold mass protests in the West Bank against the US during Pence’s visit.

M.K.