White House: Obama Will Not Meet Netanyahu During His Visit to the U.S.

A White House spokesperson announced that Barack Obama, the President of the United States, will not meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington in March. According to the Associated Press, Bernadette Meehan, spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated on Thursday that the President adheres to the old customs and traditions of not meeting with a candidate or leader of a country that is on the brink of elections. The general elections in Israel are scheduled for mid-March, and Netanyahu's Likud party is facing a tough competition against the Labor Party and the Movement party coalition. Netanyahu will travel to Washington at the invitation of John Boehner, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to deliver a speech on March 3 at a joint session of Congress on the topic of 'Threats from Tehran and Radical Islamism.' The White House has stated that the Speaker's invitation to the Israeli Prime Minister is against protocol, as only the leader of the United States can invite the leader of another country to visit the U.S. John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, also described the Speaker's invitation to Netanyahu as an 'unusual' action during a joint press conference with the EU's foreign policy chief, but he welcomed Netanyahu to speak in the U.S. whenever he wishes. The Associated Press also reported on Thursday the remarks of Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic minority leader in the House, who stated that Boehner's invitation to Netanyahu is a mistake given that nuclear negotiations are ongoing. Pelosi expressed in a press conference, 'I don't think the Prime Minister of Israel's visit, just two weeks before the Israeli elections and while our negotiations [with Iran] are at a critical point, is appropriate or beneficial.' The U.S. Congress, currently controlled by Republicans, is working to pass new sanctions against Iran. However, Barack Obama has warned that he will veto the bill if Congress passes it.