House Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday invited Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress without consulting the
White House, an apparent challenge to President Obama's policy on
negotiations with Iran.
Netanyahu accepted the offer and will address a joint session on Feb. 11, according to a congressional aide who spoke on background because the Israeli Embassy has not yet made a public announcement.
Boehner, R-Ohio, asked Netanyahu to address the threats posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions and the rise of the Islamic State. The invite came a day after the president's State of the Union Address in which Obama warned Congress against enacting new economic sanctions against Iran.
"New sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails, alienating America from its allies, and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again," Obama said Tuesday. "It doesn't make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress."
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the invitation to Netanyahu was a breach of diplomatic protocol, but that the White House was reserving judgment about the invitation until they had a chance to communicate with the Israelis on the prime minister's message.
Note EU-Digest: This is a complete diplomatic "Faux Pas". Has Boehner lost his mind?
Read More: Boehner snubs WH, invites Netanyahu to address Congress
Netanyahu accepted the offer and will address a joint session on Feb. 11, according to a congressional aide who spoke on background because the Israeli Embassy has not yet made a public announcement.
Boehner, R-Ohio, asked Netanyahu to address the threats posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions and the rise of the Islamic State. The invite came a day after the president's State of the Union Address in which Obama warned Congress against enacting new economic sanctions against Iran.
"New sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails, alienating America from its allies, and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again," Obama said Tuesday. "It doesn't make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress."
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the invitation to Netanyahu was a breach of diplomatic protocol, but that the White House was reserving judgment about the invitation until they had a chance to communicate with the Israelis on the prime minister's message.
Note EU-Digest: This is a complete diplomatic "Faux Pas". Has Boehner lost his mind?
Read More: Boehner snubs WH, invites Netanyahu to address Congress
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