Trump Loses Israeli Artifacts
Ancient ceramic candles belonging to Israel's national treasures collection are believed to be at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. The candles were lent to the U.S. for a Hanukkah candle-lighting event at the White House in 2019. The loan was approved on the condition that the items would be returned within weeks. However, due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the items could not be shipped back immediately. The Israeli Antiquities Authority asked a Jewish-American donor, Saul Fox, to hold onto the antiquities until they could be safely returned. It was later discovered that the items ended up at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, where they remain. Efforts by senior Israeli officials to retrieve the national treasures have been unsuccessful, and it is uncertain whether Trump is aware of their presence at his Florida club. The current director of the Israeli Antiquities Authority has sought assistance from the Israeli government and Trump's former U.S. ambassador to Israel to recover the items. Still, no progress has been made so far.
Transcript
00:00 It's Benzinga and here's what's on the block.
00:02 Ancient ceramic candles belonging to Israel's National Treasures Collection are believed
00:06 to be at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
00:10 The candles were lent to the US for a Hanukkah candle lighting event at the White House in
00:13 2019.
00:14 The loan was approved on the condition that the items would be returned within weeks,
00:18 however due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the items could not be shipped back immediately.
00:23 The Israeli Antiques Authority asked a Jewish-American donor, Sol Fox, to hold on to the antiques
00:28 until they could be safely returned.
00:30 It was later discovered that the items ended up at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago
00:34 estate, where they remain.
00:36 Efforts by senior Israeli officials to retrieve the national treasures have been unsuccessful,
00:40 and it is uncertain whether Trump is aware of their presence at his Florida club.
00:45 The current director of the Israeli Antiques Authority has sought assistance from the Israel
00:49 government and Trump's former US ambassador to Israel to recover the items, but no progress
00:54 has been made so far.
00:55 For all things money, visit Benzinga.com.
00:57 (door closing)