[JERUSALEM] Vice President Mike Pence wrapped up his visit to the region with a final stop at the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem’s Old City.
The Kotel was closed to the public during the private event, in which the Vice President was joined by his delegation including U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and U.S. Mideast Envoy Jason Greenblatt.
The Vice President was escorted to the Wall by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, chief rabbi of the Western Wall, and Mordechai “Soli” Eliav, Director of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. Both Jewish officials accompanied U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during their visit to the Kotel last year.
“It is my great honor to pray here at this sacred place,” the Vice President wrote in the Western Wall Heritage Foundation guest book. “God bless the Jewish people and God bless the state of Israel always.”
Pence did not make any public statements, saying only he was “inspired” after visiting the Western Wall.
Earlier Monday, the Vice President visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, paying tribute to the six million Jews murdered during the Second World War.
He also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at his residence in Jerusalem.
Before leaving Israel, the Vice President will host a reception for U.S. diplomats based in Israel at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem.
Vice President Pence’s trip has been a historic, yet controversial one, with Palestinian leaders refusing to meet with him because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Security escorted several Arab-Israeli lawmakers from the plenum in the parliament on Monday when they attempted to disrupt Pence’s speech as he took to the podium. Palestinian leaders refused to meet with Pence during the visit, essentially boycotting his trip.
The Vice President’s visit to the region included stops in Egypt and Jordan before arriving to Israel, meeting with leaders in both countries. It also coincided with the U.S. government shutdown.
Pence is the highest-level U.S. official to visit Israel since President Trump visited the region last May.