Trump drops visit to Israel until «after I become president»

Washington (dpa) - Donald Trump will delay his planned visit to Israel until "after I become president," the billionaire and candidate to be the Republican nominee for next year‘s White House race tweeted Thursday.US media had reported Wednesday, citing Israeli government sources, that Trump was set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the candidate travelled to Israel on December 28.However, Trump has found himself at the centre of worldwide criticism ever since he suggested Monday that the United States ban Muslims from entering the country.He voiced the idea after a deadly attack in San Bernardino, California, last week by a radicalized married couple that left 14 dead. The couple, who were killed in the wake of the attack, have been linked to the Islamic State terrorist group.Voters in several nations - including Israel - have protested the possibility of Trump coming to visit their countries after making the comments. Netanyahu also rejected Trump‘s remarks.Trump continues to lead the pack for the Republican nomination, despite months of outrage over a variety of statements on religion, women‘s rights and minorities that many commentators have said would have sunk the campaign of most other candidates.The Iowa caucus, the first vote in the race to pick the candidates for the 2016 US presidential race, is on February 1.