Israeli Election Commission Limits Netanyahu's Speech at US Congress

The head of the Israeli Election Commission has imposed restrictions ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to the US Congress to speak about what he has termed the 'danger of Iran's nuclear program.' According to Reuters, the Israeli Election Commission ordered on Monday, February 15, that the live television coverage of Netanyahu's speech among American lawmakers be broadcast with a five-minute delay, and any part where there is suspicion of Netanyahu using the opportunity for his election campaign should not be aired. Netanyahu's speech is scheduled for March 3, two weeks before the Israeli elections, a topic that has faced explicit opposition from the White House. Netanyahu is set to speak at the invitation of John Boehner, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This invitation has not only drawn reactions from the Democratic Party and the US government but has also been heavily criticized by Netanyahu's rivals. The Israeli elections will be held on March 26. With the opposition to Netanyahu intensifying, Salim Jabran, the head of the Israeli Election Commission, stated that the Prime Minister's speech must be broadcast with a five-minute delay in Israel, and news editors should remove any remarks that seem to promote Netanyahu's election campaign. In a statement he released, he said, 'Any remarks that smell of partisanship must be removed.' Barack Obama has stated that he will not meet with Netanyahu during his visit to the US, as he believes US officials do not meet with officials from any country on the eve of their elections. The US President has also criticized that Netanyahu's speech in Congress against the negotiations with Iran would be destructive amid the ongoing nuclear talks. In Israel, even right-wing factions have criticized his trip to the US, given Netanyahu's relations with the Republican Party, which currently holds a majority in both the Senate and Congress. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's close associates have indicated that the format of the Prime Minister's speech may change, suggesting that it might take place behind closed doors or in front of a small group of Congress members. However, Netanyahu himself has stated that he respects the invitation extended to him and will strive to thwart any 'bad and dangerous agreement' with Iran regarding its nuclear program during his speech. Polls in Israel also show opposition to Netanyahu's trip to Washington. According to a poll conducted by the Israeli Army Radio, 47% of the public wants Netanyahu's trip to be canceled, while only 34% support his visit to Congress. Nevertheless, Netanyahu's Likud party still leads in the polls over its electoral rivals, expected to secure 24 to 25% of the 120 parliamentary seats. Even if the opposition wins the elections, analysts believe that only Netanyahu can form a coalition among right-wing parties to establish a government, which would lead to his premiership for the fourth time.