Israeli antiques 'stored' at Donald Trump's Florida home

'National Treasures' presumably stored in the mansion of the former president. Sources told Israeli media that Israeli government antiques, including ancient ceramic candles, are stored at Donald Trump's Florida mansion.

«National treasures» have allegedly been stranded at the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort for months despite efforts by the Israeli authorities to retrieve them, Haaretz reported, citing sources in Israel and abroad.

The newspaper reported.

quoted a source who was «updated» on the matter and said they wouldn't be surprised if items that were originally sent to the White House in 2019 ended up «found in some kind of bathroom» in the house.< /p>

The source was referring to the infamous photographs of boxes of documents stacked high in the estate's bathroom that emerged after the former president was charged with alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Photo was published as part of an indictment against Trump, which denies the allegations and calls them «pranks».

the items are still in Mar-a-Lago. Photo: GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images

Removed from Israel in 2019 with the permission of the Antiquities Authority, the Israeli treasures were sent to the United States for a Hanukkah celebration attended by then-president Trump.

The items were intended for a brief display in Washington. and then returned to Israel within a few weeks.

However, they were never displayed at the White House due to bureaucratic embarrassments raised by US officials, according to Hareetz.

But instead in order to return to Israel, they are «stuck» in the US.

Israel Hasson, then director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, told Hareetz that the organization refused to return the items. by plane or through a shipping company for fear they would be damaged in transit.

Instead, the department had planned for one of the employees to go personally to pick up the antiques, but the Covid pandemic prevented them from doing so, Mr. Mr. Hasson.

As a result, the Antiquities Authority has asked Saul Fox, a major Jewish-American donor to the organization, to keep the items in its possession until a return can be arranged.

The photograph shows boxes of documents piled in a heap in the manor's bathroom. Photo: Ministry of Justice via AP

But earlier this year, Israel said the missing items were found in March-a-Lago, where they are reportedly still remaining.

According to Haaretz, Behind the scenes, there is a massive campaign to return the items, with the Israel Antiquities Authority contacting the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Strategic Affairs. ministry, as well as former U.S. Ambassador David Friedman.

It is unclear whether Mr. Trump, who had a personal spat with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the former's defeat in the election, is personally aware that the items on the estate.

The Telegraph contacted the Trump office and the Israel Antiquities Authority for comment.