Washington – Two senior U.S. Senate Democrats invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to a closed-door meeting with Democratic senators during his upcoming visit to Washington, warning that making U.S.-Israeli relations a partisan political issue could have “lasting repercussions.”
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Senators Richard Durbin and Dianne Feinstein extended the invitation “to maintain Israel’s dialogue with both political parties in Congress,” according to a letter to the Israeli leader obtained by Reuters.
Netanyahu has faced criticism at home and abroad for his plans to address Congress on Iran’s nuclear program on March 3, just two weeks before Israeli elections. He accepted the invitation from Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress, who consulted neither Democrats in Congress nor Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration.
“This unprecedented move threatens to undermine the important bipartisan approach towards Israel – which as long-standing supporters of Israel troubles us deeply,” the two senators wrote.
“It sacrifices deep and well-established cooperation on Israel for short-term partisan points – something that should never be done with Israeli security and which we fear could have lasting repercussions,” they said.
Durbin is the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. Senate. Feinstein, who has been in the Senate since 1992, is the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and a senior member of the Appropriations and Judiciary committees.
The letter was sent on Monday evening. Officials at the Israeli Embassy could not immediately be reached for comment.
Trying to figure out why the change of heart.
Is it because they are finally coming to their senses. This would be great, now if only Obama would come to his and meet him as well.
Or is it because they are afraid of losing the spot light to the Republicans and be branded Israel haters.
Or is it because after the shellacking they took in the last election they feel they are losing touch with mainstream America?
They’re basically giving him a chance to apologize & explain his position which was in no way to undermine the Democrats. It was not intended to make a partisan issue. His only issue was with our elected president & it was understood that Democrats would have to ‘share the info’ with their leader.
Israel needs both sides of the house & I’m sure Bibi understands that very well. Or else, he’s not fit to serve…
I hope the Democrats will understand that he really never meant them… He just felt he had no other choice & acted this way due to the threat of Israeli existence.
Everything democrats do is self serving. You can be sure this is a move motivated by self preservation. They know how angry American voters will be at them for shunning Bibi, and they have to make some kind of gesture, to try to minimize the damage that will be done to democrats in the minds of voters, if they continue in their stubborn and foolish move of boycotting his speech. Obama must be squirming at this.
Didn’t Obama say it’s inappropriate to meet with a leader right before their election!? Why the change of heart? Democrats are so transparent.