Pence delays Egypt, Israel visit for Senate tax vote

United States Vice President Mike Pence has delayed his visit to Egypt and Israel until next month.

Earlier, he was scheduled to leave on Tuesday for the two nations visit.

The vice president's office took the decision to ensure Senate passage of the GOP (the Republican party) tax bill.

"The largest tax cut in American history is a landmark accomplishment for President Trump and a relief to millions of hardworking Americans," Pence press secretary Alyssa Farah said in a statement.

"The vice president is committed to seeing the tax cut through to the finish line," Farah further said.

The CNN news quoted a White House official as saying that Pence was now expected to leave for the visits in mid-January.

The postponement of the trip comes in the wake of global criticism of President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the top Muslim and Coptic Christian leaders in Egypt had already cancelled their scheduled meeting with Pence after the US' Jerusalem recognition.

Additionally, there have been widespread protests in the Arab world following the decision. The White House officials, however, made it clear that security concerns were not the reason for the postponement.