Democratic Representatives Call for Delay of Netanyahu's Speech in Congress

Twenty-three Democratic representatives of the U.S. Congress on Thursday, February 19, sent a letter to John Boehner, the Speaker of the House, requesting that he postpone the speech of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, which is scheduled to be delivered next month in Congress. John Boehner had invited Benjamin Netanyahu to speak at a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives on March 3 (12 Esfand). This invitation has faced opposition from the White House. The invitation not only provoked a reaction from the Democratic Party and the U.S. government but also drew sharp criticism from Netanyahu's political rivals. The Israeli elections are set for March 26. Netanyahu is expected to address the threat of Iran's nuclear program in his speech to Congress. His speech is scheduled for March 12, two weeks before the Israeli elections, a timing that has faced explicit opposition from the White House. According to AFP, the representatives in their letter have called for the postponement of this invitation. These 23 Democratic representatives stated: as representatives supportive of Israel, we believe it seems that you are using a foreign leader as a political tool against the President (of the U.S.). The U.S., U.K., France, China, and Russia, along with Germany, the P5+1, are working to reach a comprehensive agreement on the Islamic Republic's nuclear dispute. Negotiations are currently underway to reach a general (political) agreement by March 31 (early Farvardin next year), after which a comprehensive agreement with technical details must be finalized by June. These Democratic representatives emphasized: our relationship with Israel is far more important than to be used as a political tool. The 23 Democratic representatives told John Boehner: we want you to postpone the invitation until after the Israeli elections and also after the deadline for reaching a comprehensive agreement with Iran. Meanwhile, as opposition to Netanyahu's upcoming election intensifies, Salim Jibran, head of the Israeli Election Commission, stated that the Prime Minister's speech should be broadcast in Israel with a five-minute delay, and news editors should remove any statements that appear to promote Netanyahu's election campaign. In this context, the Israeli Election Commission's restrictions on Netanyahu's speech in Congress have been noted, with Pelosi stating that Netanyahu's speech in Congress could have a negative impact, and Obama's deputy will not attend Netanyahu's speech in Congress.