The US Embassy inTel Aviv, Israel (Photo: AFP)

Mr. Pence has not revealed the exact date for opening its new embassy. His statement, made to the Israeli Parliament, said the door is open for the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table with Israel.

Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said that if the US wants to be a mediator in the peace process it must be a fair mediator and must abide by international resolutions.

The EU’s chief diplomat, Federica Mogherini, assured President Abbas on Monday that the EU supports his plan to make East Jerusalem the capital of a Palestinian state. She reiterated the EU’s commitment to a two-state solution with Jerusalem as a shared capital.