Rep. Engel 'Appalled' State Dept. Left Israel Out of Travel Announcement

Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., on Monday admonished the U.S. State Department for omitting President Donald Trump's upcoming trip to Israel from a clip tweeted from the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

"I am appalled that the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia disingenuously posted this incomplete and misleading video," Engel wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The U.S. Mission to KSA posted a clip on Twitter and YouTube of Trump saying at a press conference that he will visit Saudi Arabia, the Vatican, and "then Israel."

The last two words were not included in the clips released by the embassy, which have since been removed.

"At a time when the United States should be encouraging the governments of the region —and their people — to promote tolerance, respect, and mutual recognition this video implies that the US accepts Saudi Arabia's public rejectionist position toward Israel," Engel continued.

"This video plays into a rejectionist narrative and thus has no place in any social media—or any other form of communication — associated with the United States government," continued Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I urge you to immediately instruct the embassy to replace the video with the unedited version that includes the announcement of the President's planned visit to Israel."

Engel urges Tillerson "to immediately instruct the embassy to replace the video with the unedited version that includes the announcement of the President's planned visit to Israel. This will help restore the U.S. commitment toward peace and the acceptance of the Jewish State throughout the region and the world."

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