Netanyahu said his planned speech is not intended to offend Obama.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the United States and President Barack Obama for aiding Israel during a speech to Congress on Tuesday. He also warned of the threat that Iran poses to Israel’s survival.
The world must unite in order to “stop Iran’s march of conquest, subjugation, and terror,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu said he had a profound obligation to speak about the danger from Iran, and said that all efforts must be made to stop it from developing a nuclear weapon. He said that he regretted that his speech was being perceived as political, and that he appreciated the American aid, including military assistance to build the Iron Dome missile defense system.
House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, invited Netanyahu – who is facing re-election in Israel later this month – without notifying President Barack Obama, a Democrat, which the White House has called a break in protocol. Netanyahu and Obama are not scheduled to meet.
Netanyahu said Monday that his planned speech is not intended to offend Obama. “I have great respect for both Obama and the office that he holds,” he said.
U.S. officials have reported progress toward a prospective agreement that would freeze Iran's nuclear program for at least a decade. Netanyahu said the deal the U.S. is pursuing with Iran and other countries could threaten Israel’s survival.
Obama has long argued that diplomacy is the best way to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Netanyahu sees little room to negotiate with a country that has pledged to destroy Israel. He worries the longer talks go on, the closer Iran might come to carrying out its threat.
Concern at the White House centers on the timing of Netanyahu’s speech just two weeks before Israel’s upcoming election. It also brings Netanyahu into the middle of a U.S. government foreign policy debate. A Gallup poll found that Republicans are more likely to favor Netanyahu inserting himself into the discussion.
The flap has raised Mr. Netanyahu’s profile in the United States but has also made him an increasingly polarizing figure. Early last month, Gallup, the survey firm, found that 45 percent of Americans have a positive view of him, a 10-point jump since a similar poll in 2012, compared with 24 percent who view him unfavorably. But the views broke down sharply along party lines, with Republicans favoring Mr. Netanyahu three to one and Democrats evenly split.
As many as 40 members of the House and more than a handful of senators are planning to skip the speech. According to The Connecticut Mirror, all members of Connecticut’s delegation were expected to attend the speech. The Mirror later reported that Rep. Rosa DeLauro decided to skip it, saying the invitation to Netanyahu was "disrespectful of the president."
This report includes information from The Associated Press.