WASHINGTON (JTA) — Sheldon Adelson and the Republican Jewish Coalition reportedly are planning to bring Donald Trump to Israel.
The Guardian over the weekend quoted what it said were sources close to the casino magnate as saying the RJC – one of Adelson’s major beneficiaries – was planning the trip at Adelson’s behest, although nothing has been finalized.
The RJC declined to comment and Trump’s campaign did not return a request for comment.
Trump, the real estate magnate and presumptive Republican nominee, has said he would visit Israel “soon.”
Adelson, a leading pro-Israel philanthropist and a kingmaker among Republicans, recently endorsed Trump and reportedly has pledged to spend more than $100 million to elect him.
Many Republican Jews are wary of Trump because of his equivocations on whether he would be neutral in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking and would continue defense assistance to Israel. Also troubling to moderate Republicans are Trump’s broadsides against Muslims, Hispanics and women.
Trump canceled a planned trip to Israel in December after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the candidate for pledging to stop allowing Muslims entry into the United States.
Adelson emailed top Republican Jewish leaders last week in an appeal to join him in backing Trump, saying he would be a better president for Israel than Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee.
