VP Mike Pence: U.S. Embassy to move to Jerusalem in 2019

Jane Onyanga-Omara | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption The United States will open its embassy in Jerusalem next year The U.S. Embassy is making a controversial move. Vice President Mike Pence made the announcement during his speech at Israel’s Parliament.

Vice President Pence announced Monday that the U.S. Embassy in Israel will move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2019.

Pence made the announcement at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Pence for standing up for the “truth” and supporting Israel at the United Nations. He said the U.S. and Israel have a “shared destiny.”

More: Trump declares Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, breaking with decades of U.S. foreign policy

Netanyahu said President Trump’s decision in December to recognize Jerusalem as the country’s capital was one of the most historic for Israel.

“America has no greater friend than Israel, and Israel has no greater friend than the United States of America,” he said.

Scuffles as Arab Knesset members protest Pence Arab lawmakers in Israel's parliament were tossed out from the house on Monday for heckling US Vice President Mike Pence at the start of his speech. (Jan. 22)

Palestinians and Arab Israelis boycotted Pence's visit after Trump broke with decades of U.S. policy by announcing the embassy move.

Arab lawmakers were told to leave Israel’s parliament for heckling Pence at the beginning of his speech.

Israel sees Jerusalem as its "eternal" capital, and Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

Other nations, including the U.S., established their embassies in Tel Aviv in an attempt to stay neutral. Previous U.S. presidents have said the decision on Israel's capital must come from a negotiated agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Contributing: Gregory Korte, the Associated Press