Trump Said To Visit Israel, Meet Netanyahu
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will be traveling to Israel and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the near future.
The announcement came during a rally in Virginia, just a day before he’s expected to address the Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential Forum in DC. “Very soon I’m going to Israel,” the Republican presidential hopeful said. “I’m going to be meeting with (Prime Minister) Bibi Netanyahu.”
In an interview with The Associated Press, Trump said the trip would take place “sometime after Christmas, probably.”
Trump recently claimed that President Barack Obama hates the State of Israel. Speaking at a campaign rally in Reno, Nevada last month, Trump said that “many friends” in Israel “don’t know what happened” with the U.S. support of Israel in light of the Iran nuclear deal. “They (Israelis) actually think Obama hates Israel. I think he does,” he suggested. “Israel is safe with this one,” Trump declared, poking his chest. “Safe, safe! We will save Israel. Nothing, nothing bad is going to happen to Israel.”
Trump’s expected trip to Israel, although details have not been announced yet, is likely to gain a lot of media attention, but not on Netanyahu’s part. In order to avoid repeating the mistakes of 2012, the Israeli premier has agreed to give each presidential candidate visiting the Jewish State the same amount of time, and that no statements would be released to the press.