Pelosi: Netanyahu's Speech in Congress Could Have Negative Impact

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic minority leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, says that the planned speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the U.S. Congress could undermine the efforts of the U.S. government in nuclear negotiations with Iran. According to Reuters, Ms. Pelosi stated on January 28, 'Such a speech could send the wrong message regarding the chances that are to be given to diplomacy.' However, this senior congressional representative did not indicate whether she is calling for House Speaker John Boehner to withdraw the invitation. Previously, Mr. Boehner had invited Benjamin Netanyahu to speak in the U.S. Congress on March 3, just two weeks before elections in Israel. The Speaker of the House, who is known to oppose President Barack Obama's policies regarding Iran in the nuclear negotiations, has invited the Israeli Prime Minister to discuss 'the threats from Tehran and radical Islam' in the U.S. Congress. The invitation to Mr. Netanyahu was made without coordination with the White House, the U.S. government. President Barack Obama has stated that he will not meet with Netanyahu during his visit to the U.S., as such a meeting two weeks before the elections in Israel would be 'inappropriate.' Ms. Pelosi, who recently spoke with Netanyahu by phone, said, 'This invitation (to Netanyahu) is a serious and significant honor. That it should take place two weeks before elections in that country, without cooperation with congressional leaders and without coordination with the White House, is not appropriate.' Despite Mr. Boehner's support for this invitation from the Republican Party, some U.S. media outlets, which are generally considered to be supporters of the Democrats, have criticized it.