Washington – Ben Carson Plans Israel Trip Ahead Of Iowa Caucus

Washington – US Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson was planning a trip to Israel, according to reports published by Bloomberg on Monday.

Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who has faced scrutiny over his foreign policy credentials, told Bloomberg in an interview that he planned to visit Israel ahead of the Iowa caucus scheduled for February 1.

In a video message released in early November, Carson assured Israel that if he won the presidential race in the US next year, Israel would have a strong friend in the White House.

After his first visit to Israel last December, Carson said he had left with the impression that Israelis had felt betrayed by the US.

“I could not find a single person who thought America had not turned its back on Israel,” he said, in a clear reference to the Obama administration.

“And that’s something that I think we need to reverse in a hurry. You know, Israel is one of our strongest friends and allies, and the tie between America and the Jewish community is something that cannot be broken.”

Carson said that what had struck him during his fact-finding trip was the resilience of the Israeli people. “I was so impressed by the people who refuse to be cowered by the violence and the hatred that surround them, and they refuse to allow terrorism to rule their lives,” Carson said. “I think there’s a lot to be learned from that spirit.”