Israeli opposition leader urges Netanyahu to drop US Congress speech plan
Israel’s opposition leader, Isaac Herzog, has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel his planned speech to the US Congress early next month, warning that the move would do “strategic damage” to the relations between Tel Aviv and Washington.
On Thursday, Herzog, who leads Israel’s Labor party, criticized Netanyahu for irreparably damaging Israel’s close ties with the United States with his decision to speak in the US Congress reportedly against diplomatic efforts on the nuclear dispute with Iran.
“I call on Netanyahu again: Stop. Don’t go. You will cause strategic damage to Israel’s standing and to the relationship with the United States,” Herzog said.
The 54-year-old politician also lambasted the incumbent Israeli premier for rejecting to meet with US Senate Democrats during his trip to Washington, saying Netanyahu is “playing politics inside American politics.”
US House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress on March 3 against Iran without coordinating with the White House, which considers the issue a breach of protocol.
In an interview on Tuesday, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice said Netanyahu’s acceptance of Boehner’s invitation is “destructive” to the Israeli-American ties.
“I think it’s destructive of the fabric of the relationship,” she said.
Boehner has also been criticized by President Barack Obama and members of Congress who say the timing of this invitation appears to be an attempt to promote new sanctions legislation against Iran that could undermine critical negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany.
The White House has already said there would be no meeting between Obama and Netanyahu, arguing it would not be appropriate to hold such a meeting as Israel is approaching its March 17 elections.
MP/HJL/MHB
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