Some high-profile Democrats still aren't saying if they'll attend a March 3 congressional address by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu amid a partisan debate over whether the speech represents a breach of protocol.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Dick Durbin of Illinois both told reporters Wednesday that they're considering skipping the speech, accusing Republicans and Netanyahu of using the address for political gain.
"I've heard some colleagues are very concerned by it, and I'm troubled by it," Durbin said. "I just think it's a serious mistake by the Speaker and by the Prime Minister."
House Speaker John Boehner extended the invitation to Netanyahu without consulting the White House, which administration officials say was a breach of long-standing protocol. President Barack Obama will not meet with the prime minister while he is in the United States because of the visit's close proximity to the Israeli election.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Wednesday that Vice President Joe Biden's schedule is not yet set for the week of the speech.
At the Capitol, Feinstein said that she's concerned that the speech will not only be seen as bad form within the United States but that it could be bad for Israel.
"My concern is that it's obviously political and it uses the backdrop of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate, and the House, two weeks before a political campaign and violates all the protocol that's always existed in terms of working this out with the President," Feinstein told reporters. "And I don't think that helps Israel."
Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer was on the Hill Wednesday morning meeting with a handful of Jewish House Democrats. And Israeli Speaker Yuli-Yoel Edelstein met separately with House leaders from both sides of the aisle.
Other Democrats have confirmed that they will attend the address, although some say that's not an indication that they support Boehner's move to invite the prime minister unilaterally.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has called Boehner's invite to Netanyahu "not appropriate" and said it "could send the wrong message in terms of giving diplomacy a chance" in regards to Iran.
Link:
Some Democrats Mull Skipping Netanyahu Address