Washington, December 10 (RHC)-- Donald Trump, the leading U.S. presidential candidate from the Republican Party, has postponed a planned trip to Israel, saying he will reschedule "at a later date, after becoming President of the United States."

Trump tweeted Thursday that he is canceling the trip, which had become risky for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Trump called for preventing Muslims from entering the U.S. and making controversial comments about Jews.

Trump told Fox News there were many reasons he decided to hold off on the trip, slated for December 18th, including that he didn't want to put Netanyahu under pressure.

US presidential candidates often visit Israel as part of efforts to appeal to Jewish voters and donors back home and boost their foreign policy credentials.

The cancellation comes just a day after 37 members of the Israeli Knesset, nearly one-third of Israel’s parliament, sent a letter to Netanyahu calling on him to cancel the meeting. Although viewed as a Republican Party supporter, Netanyahu tweeted on Wednesday that he "rejects" Trump's Muslim ban.

The billionaire businessman also sparked criticism among many American Jews last week after speaking to a gathering of Jewish political donors, making remarks that some said promoted Jewish stereotypes.