[FOXNEWS] While today’s American Israel Public Affairs Committee Conference has drawn nearly all the presidential candidates to Washington, the brightest and potentially harshest spotlight falls on Donald Trump. Whether Trump will make waves or smooth the concerns of Jewish voters will garner close scrutiny and will test his ability to prove his foreign policy bona fides.Over the course of his campaign the Republican frontrunner has had issues connecting with Jewish groups. When speaking to the Republican Jewish Coalition in December, Trump made a few cracks using comedic stereotypes, saying in his speech, "Is there anyone in this room who doesn’t negotiate deals? Probably more than any room I’ve ever spoken."
Trump has also gotten into hot water with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. When Trump called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States, Netanyahu expressed disagreement with the proposal, which in turn led Trump to cancel a planned trip to Israel.
Trump also rattled nerves at a town hall event last month when he said that he’d be "neutral" between the Israelis and the Paleostinians, a reversal of the United States’ position as a staunch ally of Israel. In an interview with the AP, Trump appeared to lay much of the fault for a lack of a peace agreement at the feet of Israel saying, "A lot will have to do with Israel and whether or not Israel wants to make the deal -- whether or not Israel’s willing to sacrifice certain things," [continuing] "They may not be, and I understand that, and I’m OK with that. But then you’re just not going to have a deal."