A number of senior Democrats, chief among them Vice President Joe Biden, may skip Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress next month, the online newsmagazine Politico reported on Wednesday.
The absence of Democratic lawmakers from the chamber during Netanyahu’s address would be an expression of protest by the party at what they perceive to be a slight by the Israeli premier against President Barack Obama.
Netanyahu intends to use the speech to muster Congressional support for more sanctions against Iran, something which the Obama administration vehemently opposes since it would likely sabotage ongoing negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program.
The original invitation to Netanyahu was sent by the top Congressional Republican, House Speaker John Boehner. Although the prime minister initially claimed that the invitation was a bipartisan gesture, Democratic lawmakers refuted the statement, saying they were not consulted.
The White House was angered by the invitation, calling it “a breach of diplomatic protocol.”
Obama, Biden, and US Secretary of State John Kerry have already stated that they would not meet Netanyahu.
For its part, the Netanyahu camp views the speech as vitally important in light of what it believes to be Washington's inclination to make far-reaching concessions to Iran in the nuclear talks.
According to Politico, the White House will not seek to dissuade Democrats from attending Netanyahu’s speech, though at the same time “it isn’t telling Democrats to go, either.”
Politico quoted Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) as saying that he is mulling whether to attend.
“I just don’t know if it’s the proper response or not,” he said. “But I just think it’s a mistake and it might be a proper protest. But I haven’t made that definite decision.”
“With his election being so soon, and with the negotiations we have going on with Iran, he’s put himself in a political situation here that’s probably adverse to the best interest of Israel.”
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) told Politico that he “hadn’t thought about” whether he will attend.
“I don’t even know what else is on my schedule,” he said. “It wouldn’t be an official boycott. I wouldn’t announce that I wasn’t going. But I don’t really blame Netanyahu — although I’m not a fan of Netanyahu — but I don’t blame him for coming.”