1ST LEAD Trump postpones visit to Israel until «after I become president» By dpa correspondents

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 citing Israeli government sources had reported Wednesday that the candidate was set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when Trump travelled to Israel on December 28.However, Trump has found himself at the centre of global criticism after suggesting this week that the United States ban Muslims from entering the country.He voiced the idea after a shooting spree last week in San Bernardino, California, by a married couple, who killed 14 people and wounded 21. The couple, who died in a shootout with police, are suspected of being sympathizers of the Islamic State terrorist group.Governments and leaders around the world, including Netanyahu, have rejected Trumps‘ remarks, and people in some countries protested the possibility of Trump visiting.White House spokesman Josh Earnest, noting that the situation in Israel is "especially volatile," said that "most people are relieved" that Trump had reconsidered the trip.In national polls of Republicans, Trump continues to lead a large field of candidates seeking the conservative party‘s 2016 presidential 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 other campaigns.The Iowa caucus, the first vote in the race to pick a presidential nominee, is on February 1.