Donald Trump announced on Twitter last night that he will be traveling to Israel by the end of the year:
Prior to the end of the year, I will be traveling to Israel. I am very much looking forward to it.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2015
And according to a report from the Jerusalem Post, Trump wants to visit the Temple Mount, one of the holiest sites in Jerusalem for both Jews and Muslims:
What could go wrong: Trump plans Temple Mount visithttps://t.co/JVv4zJm4rD
— Oren Kessler (@OrenKessler) December 9, 2015
In the past, visits to the Temple Mount by Israeli politicians have led to violence. From the Jerusalem Post:
The planned visit follows Trump’s call for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on” in light of “great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population.”
Palestinians have often used Israeli politicians’ visits to the Mount as an excuse for violence, falsely claiming Israel is changing the status quo.
Israeli Arab politician Taleb Abu Arrar warned that Trump’s visit the site — which includes the Al-Aqsa mosque — would “set the whole region on fire”:
"Such a visit will set the whole region on fire". Trump planning Temple Mount visit – Jerusalem Post
– https://t.co/9ZcKOWSReB f— Alan Rappeport (@arappeport) December 9, 2015
Omg, this man is really losing it. Trump plans to visit Al Aqsa. https://t.co/0O6Gk8J5g0
— Ghanem Nuseibeh ن (@gnuseibeh) December 9, 2015
Donald Trump planning to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on his Israel trip this month. That's gonna go down well. https://t.co/9iOyEtDejS
— Jack Moore (@JFXM) December 9, 2015
@TuttleSinger @TimesofIsrael Trump can come, but were f-ing idiots if we let him go to Al-Aksa.
— Reese Ben-Yaacov (@ReeseBY) December 9, 2015
It’s been confirmed that Trump will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on December 28:
An Israeli official confirms that Trump will meet with Netanyahu on Dec 28 in Jerusalem via @ABC @MarquardtA
— John Santucci (@JTSantucci) December 9, 2015
#Israel's Netanyahu rebuffs calls to cancel meeting with Donald Trump https://t.co/gmr7aYWVle
— Pedro da Costa (@pdacosta) December 9, 2015
Update:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects Donald Trump's recent remarks about Muslims.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 9, 2015
The State of Israel respects all religions and strictly guarantees the rights of all its citizens.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 9, 2015
At the same time, Israel is fighting against militant Islam that targets Muslims, Christians and Jews alike and threatens the entire world.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 9, 2015
As for the meeting with Mr. Trump that was set some two weeks ago, the Prime Minister decided earlier this year on a uniform policy »
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 9, 2015
» to agree to meet with all presidential candidates from either party who visit Israel and ask for a meeting.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 9, 2015
This policy does not represent an endorsement of any candidate or his or her views.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 9, 2015
Rather, it is an expression of the importance that PM Netanyahu attributes to the strong alliance between Israel and the United States.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 9, 2015
***
