Egypt’s Coptic Pope refuses to meet US vice president

By Hussein al-Qabbani

CAIRO

Egypt's Coptic Church head Pope Tawadros II on Saturday refused a meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, scheduled to take place on Dec. 20 in Cairo, a statement said.

The statement by Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt attributed the rejection to “the decision taken by the U.S. administration regarding Jerusalem in an inappropriate time without considering the feelings of millions of Arab people.”

The rejection came a day after Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb also declined to meet Pence.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump -- reversing decades of U.S. policy -- announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move Washington’s Israel embassy to the city.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and other Muslim countries.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.

By Hussein al-Qabbani

CAIRO

Egypt's Coptic Church head Pope Tawadros II on Saturday refused a meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, scheduled to take place on Dec. 20 in Cairo, a statement said.

The rejection came a day after Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb also declined to meet Pence.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump -- reversing decades of U.S. policy -- announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move Washington’s Israel embassy to the city.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and other Muslim countries.