President Donald Trump said Friday as he left for Florida that Democrats skipping a prominent pro-Israel, policy conference are 'anti-Israel' and their conduct is disgraceful.
He told DailyMail.com on the South Lawn of the White House: 'The Democrats have very much proven to be anti-Israel. There's no question about that.'
Trump said they are also 'anti-Jewish,' as far as he's concerned. 'I don't know what happened to them.'
Trump meanwhile signaled this week that the U.S. will officially recognize the contested Golan Heights region as a part of Israel.
The move comes just four days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit with Trump at the White House.
Israel will see such a development as rivaling the significance of last year's opening of a U.S. embassy in Jerusalem — a unilateral White House action that now has city authorities planning to name a new subway station after the American president.
Trump said in an interview with the Fox Business Network, slated for broadcast on Friday morning, that he had 'been thinking about doing it for a long time.'
Host Maria Bartiromo asked the president if the move was about the election – a reference to the April 9 election the embattled Netanyahu faces.
'No. I wouldn’t even know about that,' Trump responded. The president's timing, however, coincides with a political crisis for Netanyhu, who almost certainly will face a corruption indictment following an announcement by his country's attorney general.
Asked whether his announcement was linked to Netanyahu's political future, Trump said, 'No. I wouldn’t even know about that,' and added: 'I hear he's doing okay. But I would imagine the other side, whoever’s against him, is also in favor of what I just did.'
'Every president has said, "Do that." I’m the one that gets it done.'
President Donald Trump signaled on Thursday that the U.S. will soon officially recognize the contested Golan Heights region as a part of Israel
'After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights,' the president tweeted
The Golan Heights are 690 square miles straddling between Israel and Syria; Israel won the territory and others from Syria in 1967 during the Six-Day War
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (center) joined Netanyahu (right) and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman (not pictured) in prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted back at Trump, saying Trump's move came 'at a time when Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel
Netanyahu tweeted his gratitude Thursday afternoon, writing: 'At a time when Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel, President Trump boldly recognizes Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Thank you President Trump!'
In a tweet, the president had declared: 'After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!'
Rumors of the potential move swirled in diplomatic circles this week as Israel-watchers expected a policy announcement timed with an American Israel Public Affairs Committee meeting next week, where Netanyahu will speak.
At least four prominent Democratic presidential contenders have said they will skip the annual event as AIPAC has come under fire from their party's progressive wing.
Fort Wayne, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former HUS Secretary Julian Castro, California Sen. Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are all
