US vice president Mike Pence is delaying his Middle East trip until the middle of next week, adding one more snag to a revised itinerary of cancelled stops and meetings following the political and street uproar over Washington's Jerusalem decision.
Mr Pence will not leave for Egypt on Saturday as planned but instead leave on Tuesday, a US official with knowledge of the trip confirmed to The National. The change has been attributed to domestic priorities as Mr Pence, who has a casting vote, presides over the senate to help ensure the passage of a tax revamp before Tuesday. The tax law would be the single biggest legislative accomplishment for US president Donald Trump and the Republican majority in Congress.
The delay further undermines the impact of Mr Pence’s Middle East tour, which was already constrained following the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on December 6.
_______________
Read more:
Israel carries out airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza
Beyond the Headlines: Fallout from US Jerusalem move, Syria peace talks and UAE astronauts
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and King Salman discuss US Jerusalem move
_______________
Ghaith Al Omari, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East policy, told The National that delaying the trip by a few days "is definitely related to the tax vote, but nevertheless it may be for the best" given the optics around the trip.
The US administration "underestimated the reaction of Arab leaders, who now want to avoid a photo opportunity with any US official following the Jerusalem decision", said Mr Al Omari, a former adviser to Palestinian peace negotiators.
Mr Pence’s trip was planned much before the Jerusalem announcement and was intended to reach out to the Christian communities across the Middle East. “But many Christian leaders don’t want to meet with Mr Pence,” Mr Al Omari said, forcing the vice president to abbreviate his trip and cancel few stops.
Egypt’s Coptic Church cancelled a meeting between Mr Pence and Pope Tawadros II following the Jerusalem announcement. On Wednesday, Israeli media reported that the custodian of one of the holiest sites in Christianity had refused to welcome Mr Pence to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
"It has come to our attention that vice president Pence intends to make an official visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and asked me to receive him officially," Adeeb Jowdeh Al Husseini wrote in a letter, according to Israel's Channel 2.
“I absolutely refuse to officially welcome the American vice president at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and I will not be physically in church during his visit."
The grand mufti of Al Azhar in Cairo, Ahmed Al Tayyeb, also cancelled a meeting with Mr Pence.
The Palestinian leadership has also snubbed Mr Pence over the US decision, which undermines their claim to East Jerusalem as capital of a future Palestinian state, and it remains unclear if the vice president will travel to Bethlehem or Ramallah.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said the US move showed that it could no longer be an honest broker in the peace process, and reiterated his stance at a meeting of Muslim leaders in Istanbul on Wednesday.
"It will be unacceptable for it to have a role in the political process any longer since it is biased in favour of Israel," Mr Abbas said at the meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation. "This is our position and we hope you support us in this."
The US vice president's new itinerary is expected to include talks with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday before he travels to Israel, where he is scheduled to address the Knesset and meet Israeli leaders. It is unclear if Mr Pence will visit Jordan, a key US partner which has been very critical of the Jerusalem decision.
“The administration underestimated the impact of the decision,” Mr Al Omari said. “While there is no significant violence, they didn’t pay attention to the political reaction, and the street reaction on the ground.”
Waiting for time and emotions to calm is the only path for damage control by Washington, he said.
“In few weeks, if the US has something significant to deliver to the Palestinians, it may change the conversation but it’s too early to tell.”
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Zayed Sustainability Prize
WORLD'S%2010%20HIGHEST%20MOUNTAINS
%3Cp%3E1.%09Everest%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%09K2%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%09Kangchenjunga%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%09Lhotse%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%09Makalu%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%09Cho%20Oyu%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%09Dhaulagiri%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%09Manaslu%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%09Nanga%20Parbat%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%09Annapurna%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
More on animal trafficking
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ATP WORLD No 1
2004 Roger Federer
2005 Roger Federer
2006 Roger Federer
2007 Roger Federer
2008 Rafael Nadal
2009 Roger Federer
2010 Rafael Nadal
2011 Novak Djokovic
2012 Novak Djokovic
2013 Rafael Nadal
2014 Novak Djokovic
2015 Novak Djokovic
2016 Andy Murray
2017 Rafael Nadal
2018 Novak Djokovic
2019 Rafael Nadal
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 0 Southampton 3 (Ings 49', Armstrong 54', Redmond 79')