During his speech, which received repeated standing ovations, Pence said that the U.S. plans to accelerate the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

His speech drew protest from Arab lawmakers, who were forcibly removed from the hall after they pulled out signs reading "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine."

Officials with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) also condemned the speech, with chief negotiator Saeb Erekat saying it "has proven that the U.S. administration is part of the problem rather than the solution."

The Palestinians refused to meet Pence and the PNA declared one-day general strike on Tuesday to protest his Jerusalem statement.

Prior to Trump's statement, which was delivered on December 6, Pence was scheduled to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and visit the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

But the declaration deteriorated relations between the U.S. and the Palestinians, who canceled the visit, and heightened the tensions in the region.

Israel occupied east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967, and has controlled these territories ever since despite international criticism.

The Palestinians wish to build their future state in these lands, with its capital in east Jerusalem.

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