36 hours after announcing a trip to Israel, presidential candidate, Donald Trump has decided to postpone it. The December 28th
meeting with Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled
before his anti-muslim comments and while Israel says it is ready to
receive any presidential candidate, it points out that it is not in
support of trump's comments.
Trump appeared on Fox and Friends shortly afterward and said he changed
his plans for 'lots of different reasons', including a desire to
alleviate pressure on the Israeli leader, who rebuked him yesterday over
his Muslim-banning proposition. The Israeli government confirmed the
meeting yesterday and said it was scheduled before the billionaire
announced his plan to bar Muslims from entering the U.S.
The prime minister 'will meet with any candidate from any party who will be arriving in Israel and request[s] a meeting,' an Israeli official told The Washington Post.
Netanyahu later issued a statement that said: 'The state of Israel respects all religions and strictly guarantees the rights of all its citizens. At the same time, Israel is fighting against militant Islam that targets Muslims, Christians and Jews alike and threatens the entire world.'
According to the Post, he said late last night on Twitter that he would keep the meeting, but he 'rejects Donald Trump’s latest comments about Muslims.'
On Fox and Friends Trump acknowledged the postponement and said, 'I think that was the better alternative. Netanyahu is 'a good man. But I didn't want to put him under pressure.'
Trump believes that Israel, a strategic American ally, have not been treated well under Obama.
The prime minister 'will meet with any candidate from any party who will be arriving in Israel and request[s] a meeting,' an Israeli official told The Washington Post.
Netanyahu later issued a statement that said: 'The state of Israel respects all religions and strictly guarantees the rights of all its citizens. At the same time, Israel is fighting against militant Islam that targets Muslims, Christians and Jews alike and threatens the entire world.'
According to the Post, he said late last night on Twitter that he would keep the meeting, but he 'rejects Donald Trump’s latest comments about Muslims.'
On Fox and Friends Trump acknowledged the postponement and said, 'I think that was the better alternative. Netanyahu is 'a good man. But I didn't want to put him under pressure.'
Trump believes that Israel, a strategic American ally, have not been treated well under Obama.
