Jerusalem (CNN) The US will open its embassy in Jerusalem by the end of 2019, US Vice President Mike Pence said Monday in Israel's parliament, confirming that the controversial move is speeding up after officials earlier said it could take three to four years.

Pence told Israeli lawmakers that Jerusalem was "the capital of the state of Israel," reiterating President Donald Trump's change of policy last month.

Israel's Arab parliamentary bloc and Knesset members protest Pence's speech on Monday.

Both Israelis and Palestinians consider Jerusalem as their capital, and Pence's address is likely to further rattle the Muslim world.

"In the weeks ahead, our administration will advance its plan to open the United States Embassy in Jerusalem -- and that United States Embassy will open before the end of next year," he said, to rounds of applause.

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