Prime Minister Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to Congress

2/25/2015

I’ve received a number of emails inquiring about Prime Minister Netanyahu’s upcoming speech to Congress. I have made the decision not to attend and want to explain why.

The U.S. — Israel relationship is critically important. I believe this speech will politicize it in a way that may create long term damage to the relationship as well as jeopardize our international leadership on the question of Iran.

By bypassing the President with their plan to address Congress next week, House Speaker John Boehner and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have done a deep disservice to the U.S. — Israel relationship. This speech, less than two weeks before national elections in Israel, will politicize something that should be beyond partisanship: our relationship with Israel and the President’s prerogative on matters of foreign affairs.

The planned speech is disrespectful not just to President Obama, but to the institution of the Presidency, to this country and to the U.S. — Israel relationship. Therefore, I will not attend the Prime Minister’s speech.

The ostensible reason for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address — to provide Israel’s position on the international community’s negotiations with Iran — shouldn’t be reduced to a political stunt. The outcome of these negotiations, with a major deadline less than one month away, will determine the international community’s ability to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Israel has much at stake in the outcome of the talks with Iran. I will continue to listen to our ally. However, inviting a foreign head of state to rebut the President’s position on the talks in front of Congress is not the way to do it.

I hope that Speaker Boehner and Prime Minister Netanyahu will reconsider this damaging decision so that we can welcome the Prime Minister to speak before the Congress at a future time, in the appropriate manner, and continue to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.