US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is strongly considering a visit to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during his upcoming first visit time to Israel at the end of the month, a source closely connected to organizing the trip told The Jerusalem Post.

The planned visit follows Trump's call for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on" in light of "great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population."

Palestinians have often used Israeli politicians' visits to the Mount as an excuse for violence, falsely claiming Israel is changing the status quo.

The Israeli government maintains the status quo which foresees that non-Muslims may visit, but not pray on the Temple Mount, which is administered by the Jordanian Islamic Trust (Wakf).

During his visit, scheduled on December 28, Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A source close to Netanyahu said on Wednesday that the prime minister "does not agree with every statement by every candidate."

Netanyahu's spokesman confirmed that the Prime Minister is willing to meet with any US presidential candidate who visits Israel.

Several members of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, have called on Netanyahu not to meet with Trump following his statements on the Muslims.

According to a CNN poll, Trump still leads among Republican voters in New Hampshire, the second state to hold Republican primaries. Trump has 32% of voters' support, a six percent increase since September. He is followed by Marco Rubio with 14%.

Trump was jeered last week during an appearance at the Republican Jewish Coalition forum after he refused to say that Jerusalem is the undivided and recognized capital of the State of Israel. ‘’You know what I want to do ? I xant to wait until I meet with Bibi (Netanyahu),’’ he said.