Donald Trump Booed By GOP Jews At Forum For Refusing To Recognize Status Of Jerusalem

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump was booed at a forum held by the Republican Jewish Coalition on Thursday in Washington, after he stumbled on a question about his commitment to Jerusalem as the undisputed capital of Israel, the Wall Street Joural reported. Trump did not directly answer the question posed to him by Matthew Brooks, executive director of the coalition, and instead referred to his plans to visit Israel in the coming weeks and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“You know what I want to do? I want to wait until I meet with Bibi,” he said, as audience members booed.

Trump also drew a mix of criticism and laughter for evoking Jewish sterotypes during the forum, asking rhetorically at one point if there was anyone in the room who didn’t negotiate deals and referred to the audience as “businesspeople” and "negotiators."

“With us, we have a deal instinct, a lot of us. You walk into a room and you can tell almost in two seconds whether or not you’re going to make a deal,” he said.

But Trump also questioned Israel’s willingness to come to a peace deal with Palestinians -- a stance his fellow candidate, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida -- had appeared to touch upon earlier that day, noting that the situation was “not a real estate deal with two sides arguing over money.” Trump had said he didn’t know that Israel was committed to negotiations.

“Some in our party actually question Israel’s commitment to peace,” Rubio said in what seemed to be a jab at Trump. “Some in our own party actually call for more sacrifice from the Israeli people. They are dead wrong and don’t understand the enduring bond between Israel and America.”