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US to open embassy in Jerusalem before 2019 end: Pence (Lead)

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Jerusalem, Jan 22 (IANS) The US will open its embassy in Jerusalem “before the end of next year”, US Vice President Mike Pence said on Monday in the Israeli Parliament, where he reiterated the city was “the capital of the state of Israel”.

Pence’s statement follows President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last month, a move that overturned decades of American policy and international consensus on the status of the holy city, the New York Times reported.

Both Israelis and Palestinians consider Jerusalem as their capital.

At the Parliament, Pence appreciated Trump and said that “the alliance between our two countries has never been stronger and the friendship between our peoples has never been deeper — and I am here to convey a simple message from the hearts of the American people. America stands with Israel”.

Arab-Israeli lawmakers had said earlier that they would boycott the Parliament speech.

Pence was earlier given a warm welcome to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, greeted by an honour guard as the US national anthem played.

The welcoming ceremony in Jerusalem was attended by the White House Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt, US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, and the Israeli Ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer.

Pence said that Trump’s December 6 announcement “would create an opportunity to move on in good-faith negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority”.

Netanyahu called Trump’s Jerusalem decision “historic” and thanked Pence for his part in the embassy’s move. The decision led to widespread protests in which 30 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces.

“I’ve had the privilege over the years of standing here with hundreds of world leaders and welcome them, all of them, to Israel’s capital, Jerusalem,” said Netanyahu.

“This is the first time that I’m standing when both leaders can say those three words: ‘Israel’s capital, Jerusalem’,” he said.

Trump had said that the embassy’s move should not hamper peace talks and also threatened to shutter an office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in Washington as well as cut American donations to the UN agency that provides services for Palestinian refugees.

In a statement on her Facebook page, Israel’s Culture Minister, Miri Regev, called Pence “a very welcome guest here” and thanked him and Trump for endorsing the Israeli claim to Jerusalem and for cutting funding for the UN agency.

Pence met Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday and held talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Sunday before arriving in Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not meet Pence. He called Trump’s Jerusalem declaration “a slap in the face”.

On Tuesday, Pence will visit the Western wall in East Jerusalem, a Jewish holy site at the foot of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a flashpoint site sacred to both Muslims and Jews and a focal point of the unrest in East Jerusalem.

Palestinians, who on Sunday burned pictures of Pence during protests, called for a general strike on Tuesday to protest the visit.

–IANS
soni/bg

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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