US Israel relations strained

US and Israel relations are strained—thanks to House Speaker Boehner

As the speech before the US Congress by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nears, the White House has deemed it “destructive” questioning the diplomatic wisdom of both House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) for inviting him and Netanyahu’s acceptance during ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran, according to a report by the Associated Press.   

Despite the reports by US administration, Israel’s Prime Minister contends the US has “given up” on stopping Iran from developing nuclear advances for war.

Netanyahu’s invitation was conducted without conference with President Barack Obama and has caused a rift between the House of Representatives and this administration.  The White House terms the action as a breach of diplomatic protocol.

In an appearance on the Charlie Rose show this week, Obama national security advisor Susan Rice said that Netanyahu’s statements “injected a degree of partisanship” into the relationship between the two countries.  

Rice’s comments are among the most overt so far by the administration since Netanyahu accepted  an invitation from Speaker John A. Boehner to make his case to Congress against a nuclear deal with Iran, which has been a priority of the President.  “It is also the frankest acknowledgment yet by a top American official of the degree to which the controversy has damaged United States-Israeli relations,” according to the New York Times.

Secretary of State John Kerry also criticized the visit suggesting that in nuclear negotiations Netanyahu “may have a judgment that just may not be correct here.”

As it appears the visit is going to take place, the Israel PM has turned down an invite by Senate Democrats to meet with them.  He said a meeting could “compound the misperception of partisanship” regarding the visit.  Netanyahu’s admission that a meeting would “compound” misperceptions suggests he already realizes there are issues that violate international protocol.  These, however, are not “misconceptions” but rather Israel playing partisan politics with a Republican controlled Congress that is exhibiting blatant disregard for protocol to advance an ideological policy that could eventually mean war in the Middle East.

Although not saying formally they will be boycotting Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, top US officials Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary Kerry both will be occupied and not attending the joint session.  Biden will be “traveling” and Kerry in Switzerland when the Israel leader is in the US.

Meanwhile on the home front in Israel, the PM is under fire because housing prices have gone up more than 50 percent during his six years in office, according to the Israel’s news source Haaretz. The cost of living has likewise increased 30 percent.  The security of Israel’s population seems to also be at risk as stabbings by terrorists have “come back” and the country endured 50 days of rocket attacks during the summer.

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Somehow the term “taking the path of least resistance” for Netanyahu includes leaving his troubles and homeland unrest behind him in favor of traveling to the US where he has a camaraderie with a hawkish Republican Congress willing to listen and support what many believe is not only a breach of diplomatic protocol but an attempt to blind side sensitive negotiations with Iran that could eventually bring peace to the region.

Resources
http://frontpage.pch.com/p/news/source/news_ap/category/top_headlines/article/f581624b3fa646d8a18997eb6d7dfc9b
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/26/us/politics/susan-rice-calls-netanyahus-planned-visit-destructive-to-us-israel-ties.html?_r=0
http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/.premium-1.644087