No Churches, No Palestinians: Mike Pence's Official Schedule for His Visit to Israel

United States Vice President Mike Pence will arrive in Israel this Wednesday for an official visit. His trip abroad will include a stop in Egypt, during which he will meet with President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, and one in Germany, where he will spend time with American troops.

• Under pressure, Egypt's suffering Christians reluctantly reject VP Pence as a savior
• Pence prepares Mideast visit, but neither Palestinians nor Christians on agenda
• Trump administration 'can't envision' Western Wall left out of Israel in future peace deal
• Despite Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Pence’s visit to Western Wall expected to be 'private'

Palestinian officials, however, are not preparing a welcome for Pence's visit. After U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital last week, Palestinian officials have pressured local church leaders not to welcome Pence. "There will be no meeting with the vice president of America in Palestine," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' diplomatic advisor said last week. The vice president is also not slated to visit Bethlehem or churches in Jerusalem.

The Coptic Pope of Egypt also announced he will refuse to meet with Pence due to the American administration's controversial decision on Jerusalem. 

Pence in Egypt

Wednesday, December 20:

Meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi 

Pence in Israel
Wednesday, December 20:

Visit to the Western Wall

Thursday, December 21:

Meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Formal remarks at the Knesset

Dinner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Friday, December 22:

Meeting with President Reuven Rivlin

Visit to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem

Pence in Germany
Saturday, December 23:

Visit with U.S. service members at Ramstein Air Force Base