U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will visit Israel, Egypt and Jordan from Jan. 20 to 23, the White House confirmed on Monday, embarking on a tour originally planned for last month after President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Pence had postponed his trip to the Middle East in order to stay in Washington for a congressional vote on Trump's tax overhaul plan.
Once in the region, Pence is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Jordan's King Abdullah, the White House said in a statement.
Pence, a strong supporter of Trump's decision on Jerusalem, will also visit the city's Western Wall and give a speech at the Israeli parliament, it said.
"At President Trump's direction, the vice president is traveling to the Middle East to reaffirm our commitment to work with the U.S.'s allies in the region to defeat radicalism that threatens future generations," said Alyssa Farah, a spokeswoman for Pence.
He plans to discuss with the three leaders "ways to work together to fight terrorism and improve our national security," she added.
The status of Jerusalem, which is home to Muslim, Jewish and Christian holy sites, is one of the thorniest obstacles to a peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, who were furious over Trump's move and have declined to meet with Pence.
