Donald Trump
Donald TrumpReuters

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will travel to Israel to meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on December 28, an Israeli government official said Wednesday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the visit had been scheduled two weeks ago, before the recent controversy over Trump's call to bar Muslims from entering the United States.

Trump announced he would visit Israel last week, in a speech to Jewish members of the Republican party in Manassas, Virginia.

The would-be president said meeting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would be a highlight of his trip. “He's a good man. He's worked very hard. He has absolutely no support from President Obama. Absolutely none.”

But sources close to Netanyahu told Channel 10 Wednesday that the Prime Minister "does not agree with everything the candidate [Trump - ed.] has said." 

Among other remarks, Trump has expressed favor for a two-state solution, dividing Jerusalem, and has also voiced crass Jewish stereotypes at none other than the Jewish Republican Coalition's Presidential Forum.

AFP contributed to this report.