Jerusalem row: Palestine walking away from chance to discuss peace, says US

Jerusalem: The United States accused the Palestinian Authority Monday of "walking away" from a chance to discuss peace in the Middle East by snubbing Vice President Mike Pence on an upcoming visit.

Read: After Trump’s Jerusalem decision, Paletinian Prez declines meeting with Pence

"It's unfortunate that the Palestinian Authority is walking away again from an opportunity to discuss the future of the region," Jarrod Agen, Pence's deputy chief of staff, said in a statement.

The comments come after the Palestinian Authority said that its president Mahmud Abbas would refuse to meet Pence later in December in protest at the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.