Barack Obama: Meeting with Netanyahu Before Israeli Elections is 'Inappropriate'

The President of the United States stated that he rejected a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington in March, as holding this meeting two weeks before the Israeli elections is 'inappropriate.' According to Reuters, Barack Obama said in an interview with CNN that the Israeli Prime Minister's visit to the U.S. has become a sensitive issue in the diplomatic relations between the two sides, and politicians in both countries have taken positions on it. John Boehner, the Speaker of the House, invited Benjamin Netanyahu to speak in Congress without informing the White House and Democratic representatives. Netanyahu's visit, which comes very close to the Israeli general elections, could be interpreted as support for him. The elections are scheduled for March 17. Barack Obama mentioned in the CNN interview, part of which aired on Wednesday, February 8, that 'I did not accept the meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu simply because our general policy is that we do not meet with any political leader in the world two weeks before their elections.' The U.S. President added, 'I think such an action is inappropriate, and this principle applies to our closest ally as well.' Obama cited as an example that David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the UK, planned his visit to the U.S. well ahead of his country's elections, so 'it does not appear that we are intervening in the balance or direction of that country's elections.' The Israeli Prime Minister's visit to the U.S. coincides with sensitive nuclear negotiations between Iran and six world powers. Some U.S. congressional representatives agree with Israel's skepticism about the success of the talks and are calling for increased economic sanctions against Iran. Democratic senators stated on Tuesday that they will refrain from applying pressure for new sanctions against Iran for the next two months. Benjamin Netanyahu, whose relationship with Barack Obama is cold, defended speaking in Congress as a moral duty and a strategic necessity. He stated on Sunday that his main goal is to ask the U.S. and other world powers not to negotiate a nuclear agreement with Iran that could be dangerous for Israel. The U.S. government has stated that these talks are important to maintain pressure on Iran and hopes to reach a conclusion by the end of June. Barack Obama added in the CNN interview, 'In our view, undermining diplomacy at this sensitive stage without any justification is a mistake.' He assured that if an agreement is reached, he can lobby and gain congressional approval. The U.S. President said, 'I have previously stated that we prefer not reaching an agreement over a bad agreement. However, if I can demonstrate that the agreement we have reached ensures mechanisms to guarantee that Iran will not exit its nuclear capacity, if nuclear experts assure us that Iran is not on the verge of becoming a nuclear-armed state, then this is a public debate that everyone should have.' He added, 'After that, I will ask every member of Congress why they should reject such an agreement and pursue a potentially military solution that has less impact on pressuring Iran's nuclear program and could have significant consequences, especially at a time when we are witnessing a large number of conflicts and tensions in the Middle East.' Obama stated, 'And I am confident that I can make my case.'