Paul Calvert reports on US Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Israel.



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Paul: What did you feel when you heard the news on the TV?

Ali: Tears came in my eyes. We were hoping in the last 20-25 years about all these politicians, which said there will be peace and two States. You know we couldn't believe in something like that, but we were hoping all the time and suddenly on the TV you hear this news. It was a big shock. You didn't want to believe.

Jerusalem As Israel's Capital

Paul: Do you think this will cause trouble?

Ali: I think so. The Palestinians want to live and they are ready to work with Jews together. They are ready to go to Israel and work. They are ready to do everything, but the problem is what you see in most, I don't say in all the Israelis, there is a big amount of people in Israel who are not ready to live with Palestinians together. They want to have one State and one Israel and they want to put all Palestinians out to Jordan and Egypt. This is the truth. This is what you hear from them, but not all of them. There are a lot of kind Israelis in Israel, like doctors; they are ready to do everything to live together in peace and harmony with Palestinians. I can't give you a number, let's say 60-65% of Israelis don't want to give Palestinians a Palestinian State.

Paul: Would you have rather heard from Donald Trump that West Jerusalem is for Israel and East Jerusalem is for the Palestinians?

Ali: That is what we were hoping, because you can't avoid Christians and Muslims who have their churches and their Mosques. It was always, since Jesus Christ, a three religion country.

Paul: Is the peace process over now?

Ali: With such a decision, I don't think the Palestinian people can do anything at all, or the Arab nations. You don't know what is going to happen.

I know that a lot of people will suffer, especially in Jerusalem, those who are living there, who are paying taxes and have the Israeli ID. They were always suffering and now it will be more for them, the Christians the Muslims who are living in Jerusalem. They will suffer a lot and the next two or three years will be very bad for them. I think all the rules will make them leave or make them not able to stay there because of financial reasons.

Back in December I spoke with an Israeli American, to get an Israeli point of view on Donald Trump's decision to move the Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem As Israel's Capital

Paul: What do you think of Donald Trump's decision to move the Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?

I think he is definitely a very bold person and bold President. He likes to ruffle people's feathers. I think ultimately politically I definitely stand with his stance, and with Netanyahu. Politically it's a great thing, but there is always a price to pay for these things and who pays that price?

Paul: How did you feel when you heard the news?

A little bit not so excited to come to work down town Jerusalem.