Donald Trump postpones Israel trip until “after I become President”
Donald Trump has announced that his planned trip to Israel has been postponed until “after I become President.”
Israel was facing calls to scrap a planned visit to the country by Donald Trump after the controversial businessman turned presidential candidate called for Muslims to be banned from entering America.
Trump, who remains the frontrunner in the race for the Republican nomination for the White House, cancelled scheduled talks with Benjamin Netanyahu on 28 December during a trip that was planned, before the current controversy.
The announcement that the trip has been “postponed” comes after condemnation of his call for a “total shutdown” on Muslims entering the US until “our country’s representatives can figure out what’s going on”.
The candidate cited polls suggested deep hatred of the country among some Muslims. Zionist Union MK Omer Bar-Lev tweeted: “This racist Donald Trump should not be welcome in the Knesset.”
Concern was ratcheted up yesterday when The Jerusalem Post reported that Trump, a strong supporter of Israel and of Netanyahu, is considering visiting the Temple Mount.
Many in Israel suggest that false claims about Israel’s intention of altering the status quo there contributed to sparking the current wave of stabbings. Netanyahu said he “rejected Trump’s recent remarks about Muslims. Israel respects all religions and strictly guarantees the rights of all its citizens”.
Meretz Party legislator Issawi Frej urged Interior Minister Silvan Shalom to block the billionaire from entering Israel.
He said: “Just as it is obvious Israel wouldn’t allow an anti-Semite to use it to advance its political goals, so too should be the case of Trump. He is not only a racist but a danger to the free world.”
Faith Matters founder Fiyaz Mughal said: “Trump’s comments are vile. He resurrects in the minds of many… that we must remain vigilant against bigotry and prejudice.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
