Former Israel's US envoy blasts Netanyahu for Congress address

Israel's former ambassador to the US Michael Oren

Former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren has reprimanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for planning to address the US Congress about Iran.

"I did say publicly that the prime minister could speak somewhere else, perhaps not intercede between the White House and the Congress or between Democrats and Republicans," Oren told CNN on Sunday.

He was referring to an invitation by Republican House Speaker John Boehner, who asked Netanyahu to travel to the US without consulting Democratic President Barack Obama.

Oren also noted that the US president and the Israeli prime minister have "very different ideological worldviews."

The former envoy said that the Obama administration officials are furious over the Netanyahu’s speech.

"There have been things said about Prime Minister Netanyahu from White House sources that I can't even repeat on national television," Oren said.

Despite the rift between Obama and Netanyahu, "the United States and Israel are going to be allied very closely," he added.

The invitation sparked outrage among some American officials since the US and Iran are in the middle of crucial nuclear negotiations to reach a final agreement.

Netanyahu, who has repeatedly said that he is opposed to talks with Iran, is expected to use the speech against a possible nuclear deal.

The White House announced that President Obama would not meet with Netanyahu during his trip.

AGB/DDB


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