Americans for Peace Now (APN) calls on Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner (R-Ohio) to re-issue
his invitation for the prime minister of Israel to address Congress for a later date, after the deadline for
negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, and following the elections in Israel, after a new government
coalition is formed.
APN’s President and CEO Debra DeLee said: “Both the timing of the invitation and its manner are outrageous. They
are inappropriate and irresponsible. Not only were the invitations issued in a way that violates protocol, their
timing suggests congressional meddling in a foreign county’s election campaign – two weeks only before Israel’s
general elections, in which Benjamin Netanyahu is a candidate. Furthermore, the timing strongly suggests an attempt
to use a foreign leader to influence the debate between Congress and the White House over America’s Iran policy. To
top it all, this move uses Israel, yet again, as a wedge issue in internal American politics. Speaker Boehner’s
invitation – both its timing and manner – is therefore a disservice to US national security interests and to
Israel’s.