US Israel relations strained

26/2/2015

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.

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

5 Comments

eileen

26/2/2015 04:06:21 am

Thanks for the latest on this Dava.

Who runs the USA the President or Congress leader? Netahyahu should not be allowed simply as he is in an election year. Perhaps as his popularity wanes at home and abroad he sees this is a way to gain support. I believe Netanyahu invited Arab leaders to join him. So maybe he is the big cheese in US government??

I do not see their refusal as a negative but a positive.

All in all it is total disrespect for President Obama and his office. Shame on them. If Israel is losing support perhaps they best look at their actions during the deadly summer of 2014 when they battered civilians in Gaza to death.

Dava Castillo

26/2/2015 06:55:23 am

Thanks for reading and commenting Eileen.

The invite by Boehner is unprecedented to my knowledge.

Actually we have shared governance between Executive (president), Legislative (congress), and judiciary (supreme court). Still, the invite to Netanyahu was a breach of protocol according to the White House rules because of the elections in Israel. Either Boehner did know when he originally invited him or didn't care. Boehner is 3rd in line to the presidency as the House Speaker, so he does wield power, but he should still respect diplomatic protocol.

I cannot comment with any veracity on who Netanyahu invited, as no mention of it was in the articles I read or this story.

eileen

28/2/2015 10:36:21 am

Thanks for the clarification Dava. It is a disgrace I think but then who am I :)

Hannah

26/2/2015 09:56:47 am

After Israel killed 2,500 people and almost levelled the Gaza strip, then all of a sudden knew the guilty ones are in the West Bank and shot them without a court case, confiscated a huge peace of land from the West Bank to revenge three soldiers death, Netanyahu should be ashamed to show his face anywhere. As fas as I know Israel has a stock pile of nuclear weapons and chemical weapons. If that report is right then they have now right to shout about and forbid others. It is good news that the USA support is cooling down. Israel was riding the high waves because of that and got away whatever they decided. They never stopped warring and taking land from neighbouring countries. The shrank Palestine into non-existence and nobody said a word. Now they want to tell Iran what to do and not because Iran threatens Israel

ken

3/3/2015 04:31:39 pm

So the Republicans win the which party is most servile to Israel's interests contest. Canadian Prime Miniister Stephen Harper probably can win over the Republicans on this issues

Dava Castillo

is retired and lives in Clearlake, California. She has three grown children and one grandson and a Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration from St. Mary’s College in Moraga California. On the home front Dava enjoys time with her family, reading, gardening, cooking and sewing.

After writing for four years on the news site Allvoices.com on a variety of topics including politics, immigration, sustainable living, and other various topics, Dava has more than earned the title of citizen journalist.

Politics is one of her passions, and she follows current events regularly.

In addition, Dava has written about sustainable living and conservation. She completed certification at the University of California Davis to become a Master Gardener and has volunteered in that capacity since retirement.

US Israel relations strained

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