U.S. officials at Cairo Airport before Pence visit to Egypt

CAIRO – 12 December 2017: An American security delegation arrived at Cairo International Airport on Tuesday to inspect the airport before the visit of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to Egypt on December 20.

The delegation included a number of U.S. officials, who, in coordination with Egyptian security officials, will prepare the entire visit and check all necessary facilities for the arrival of the vice president, said a security source at the airport.

Pence announced that he would visit Egypt in December, according to the Associated Press (AP). During his visit, Pence will meet with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to discuss US-Egyptian cooperation on security issues.

One goal of Pence's visit is to meet with religious leaders to discuss ways of addressing the persecution of Christians and all religious minorities across the Middle East.

"One of the messages that I will bring on the president's behalf to leaders across the region is that now is the time to bring an end to the persecution of Christians and all religious minorities."

However, Egypt’s Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb announced he would not meet with Pence, according to a statement issued by Al-Azhar Sheikhdom on Friday.

“How can I sit with those who granted what they do not own to those who do not deserve it,” Al-Tayeb expressed in the statement, alluding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The grand imam called on Trump to overturn his illegitimate and illegal decision.

Pope Tawadros of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark is also refusing to meet with Pence, announced Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church in a Saturday statement.

"In light of the recent decision taken by the U.S. administration regarding Jerusalem, which was issued at an inappropriate time and made in disregard to the sentiments of millions of Arabs, the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church apologizes that it will not receive Mike Pence, vice president of the United States, during his visit slated for December," the statement read.

On Wednesday night, Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel during a televised speech from the White House. Trump’s decision was met by a barrage of criticism and condemnations from many Arab and world leaders, while protests took place in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and different parts of the Arab world.

Clashes broke out between Israeli forces and Palestinians in the West Bank on Friday. Israeli forces fired tear gas at protesters, killing two Palestinians and injuring more than 300 others. On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes killed two others and injured dozens, raising the injured toll to 1,114 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.