How Benjamin Netanyahu Has Defied Barack Obama

The visit of the Israeli prime minister to the United States, which goes against all rules of protocol, has angered the Democratic camp and strained relations between the two countries.

John Kerry has tried to calm the situation. On the eve of Benjamin Netanyahu’s highly controversial visit to Washington, the American secretary of state yesterday confirmed that the Israeli prime minister was “welcome to speak in the United States.” But he added that it was “odd, if not unique” that the visit was organized in a manner that did not follow protocol.

John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, invited Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before the American Congress, without consulting the White House administration. The Israeli leader accepted the invitation and on Tuesday will give a speech which will probably be very critical of the international negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program. The White House, which is furious that this invitation was made behind its back, has announced that President Obama will not meet Netanyahu as is customary before an appearance before Congress. National Security Adviser Susan Rice has called this visit “destructive” to U.S.-Israel relations.

An Electoral Maneuver

Relations between the two allies have never been so bad, especially during the last few weeks. President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu can barely stand each other and have confronted each other on several occasions over Israel’s policy of expansion in the occupied territories, negotiations with the Palestinians and of course over Iran. But, above all, their interests are increasingly divergent. Israel is very worried about the current negotiations with Tehran and fears that an agreement will lift sanctions too much and allow Iran to build nuclear weapons. For its part, the Obama administration is very anxious to reach a solution and sign an historic accord during its two remaining years.

The invitation has unleashed a huge controversy in the United States. Even the conservative commentator and hawk, Robert Kagan, seems to have recognized that the Republicans have gone too far. “Bringing a foreign leader before Congress to challenge a U.S. president’s policies is unprecedented,” he wrote. Some accuse the Israeli prime minister of a lack of respect for President Obama by accepting the invitation of his political opponents. Others criticize his electoral motives. Netanyahu claims that by coming to Washington, he has only the security of Israel at heart. But, curiously, he comes to Washington when he is in the middle of a campaign for re-election in Israel. No doubt he hopes that a speech before Congress will increase his stature and enable him to steal votes on March 17.

‘Congress Is Not a Prop for Your Election Campaign’

This visit has also aggravated divisions at the heart of the Jewish community. A pro-Israel group which takes a view close to that of the Obama administration took out an advertisement in Thursday’s New York Times challenging Netanyahu. It tells him that “Congress isn’t a prop for your election campaign” and “sticking your nose into American politics behind the back of our elected president is harmful to relations between the two countries.”* Three days later, Shmuley Boteach, a well-known American rabbi, retaliated with another ad, also in The New York Times, accusing Susan Rice of being “blind” to the Jewish and Rwandan genocides. Instead of trying to soothe frayed tempers, Benjamin Netanyahu has added to them by refusing to meet with elected Democrats, even though they are great defenders of the Jewish state. This refusal has greatly shocked people. Until now, Israel has always striven to work with both camps. All of a sudden, nearly 30 Democratic congressmen have announced their intention to boycott the speech.

Even in Israel, people are worried about the long-term repercussions for relations between the two countries. Israel receives some $3 billion of aid from the United States each year and depends greatly on its diplomatic support. Several generals and Meir Dagan, former head of Mossad, have criticized Netanyahu’s policies for being “destructive to the future and security of Israel.” As for John Boehner, he insists that he does not regret his invitation. He says that it is important for Americans to hear Netanyahu’s views. “The only conflict here is between the White House and Israel.”

* Editor’s Note: This second quote from the advert, accurately translated, could not be verified.