Trump irks donors with comments on Israel

Welcome to the week of “Is Donald Trump an anti-Semite?”

Predicting a comeback, however, Bush said that “I’m going to win New Hampshire first”.

Israel, Elkin said, should stay out of US politics while American Jews “weigh up the various candidates according to what they represent and make a decision”. “Is there anyone in this room who doesn’t negotiate deals?” he said later. This room negotiates deals… perhaps more than any room I’ve ever spoken to. “[The room laughed.] It’s OK, I’ve been called on that a couple of times too”. But I don’t want his money.

“After having carefully reviewed the speech, we do not believe that it was Donald Trump’s intention to evoke anti-Semitic stereotypes”, CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said.

“I want to wait until I meet with Bibi”, Trump said, referring to his upcoming trip to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

But he added, “I don’t know that Israel has the commitment to make it”.

He continued: “Israel stands on the front lines of our civilizational struggle against radical, apocalyptic Islam”.

“It is possible that this was terrorist related, but we don’t know”.

That’s why – it may have been jarring for the business mogul to be openly booed at the Republican Jewish Coalition Presidential forum on Thursday, where every single GOP candidate appeared, except for Kentucky Sen.

“The world is complicated; the Middle East is even more complicated”, he said at one point.

“We certainly have learned some facts that are concerning and weigh on our minds”, Marco Rubio said early in his speech before the Republican Jewish Coalition presidential forum. “Donald Trump is well aware of the composition of our board and our audience”, Mark McNulty said, “one that includes many successful businessmen and women as well as deal makers like him”. Trump was booed when he didn’t commit to pushing for making Jerusalem Israel’s capital instead of Tel Aviv.

Trump was speaking Wednesday night in Manassas, Virginia, where he was asked about his stance on supporting Israel.

Matt Brooks, RJC’s executive director, said that unlike the debates – where candidates often have just a few seconds to respond to questions – Thursday’s forum gives plenty of time for deep explanations of policy.

The GOP front-runner said he “love(s)” Israel and will support it whole-heartedly – and attacked President Barack Obama for not doing enough to support the USA ally. “Trump doesn’t want money”.

“Who’s the wise guy?” asked Trump. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, married a Jew and converted, and the billionaire’s grandchildren are Jewish.

“Whether or not the current Administration realizes it, or is willing to acknowledge it-our enemies are at war with us” Cruz said, adding again his frustration over the President’s approach to handling ISIS. Today, the RJC is looking for more than just Israel bona fides: they want the candidates to show a clear command of foreign policy, Mr. Rubio’s focus in the Senate, and demonstrate a commitment to bolstering national security in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.

Greenblatt noted that his group has not hesitated in the past to call out Trump over his comments about Mexican immigrants and Muslims. “If you’re going to make a deal – and you can make a great deal – you can’t go in with the attitude that you’re going to shut it down”. For the candidates, the stakes are high as they make their pitches to more than 600 attendees.

Rubio also promised to “speak out against Palestinian terror in no uncertain terms” and to “never confuse the victim and the victimizer” as president, unlike President Obama and Hillary Clinton, who have made the unsuccessful Israeli-Palestinian peace process “the defining feature” of the U.S.-Israel relationship.