Posted on 03/02/2015 12:34:06 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
In this handout provided by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the American Israel Public Affairs Committee 2015 Policy Conference on March 2, 2015, in Washington. (credit: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO via Getty Images)
NEW YORK (CBNewYork/AP) — Sen. Charles Schumer says he’ll be among those attending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Tuesday.
There has been heated disagreement among lawmakers over whether to boycott the speech.
Critics have charged that House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, ignored protocol by inviting Netanyahu without first consulting the president and that the speech opens the Capitol up to Israeli politics. The address also comes as the Obama administration and Iran are negotiating the future of the Iranian nuclear program.
Schumer, speaking as a congressional delegation met with Mayor Bill de Blasio at Gracie Mansion on Monday, noted that while he would not boycott, he did not like the way Boehner handled inviting Netanyahu.
Schumer said two issues transcend how the speech was set up.
“One is the American-Israeli relationship, and I am going to show it is strong and vital to both countries,” he told reporters, including WCBS 880’s Rich Lamb. “Both countries are in the lead in the fight against terrorism.
“And the second is preventing a nuclear Iran, which would be a catastrophe. I want to hear what the prime minister says.”
Of the half-dozen Democratic House members at Gracie Mansion, four declared they would attend the speech while objecting to the invitation without White House consultation, and one said she has not decided.
Rep. Charles Rangel said he would not attend citing House rules.
“I am not boycotting this speech,” Rangel said. “I am just not going to the speech.
“I think that for me to attend this would be violating the rules of the House of Representatives. Yes, the speaker invited on behalf of the House, but half of the House are Democrats — that is, in terms of being partners in the legislative body — and there was no one on the Democratic side that was a part of that invitation.”
Rangel added that he was disappointed that House Republicans were making Israel into a partisan issue.
De Blasio added that he thought Boehner “made a huge mistake” by inviting the Israeli prime minister.
“You don’t politicize the platform of the House of Representatives in the context of another nation’s election,” he said.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu insisted Monday that despite recent differences with the Obama administration over the looming nuclear deal with Iran the alliance between his country and the Unites States was “stronger than ever.”
Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington that “reports of the demise of the Israeli-U.S. relationship are not just premature, they are just wrong.”
Because his congressional speech was not coordinated with the White House, Netanyahu’s already tense relationship with President Barack Obama reached a new low and included some of the harshest attacks against him to date.
The Israeli leader is deeply suspicious of Obama’s efforts to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran, fearing the U.S. and its negotiating partners are prepared to leave Tehran on the cusp of developing a nuclear weapon. Netanyahu stressed he would speak clearly before Congress about the threat a nuclear Iran would pose to Israel and the world.
“First, let me clarify what is not the purpose of that speech. My speech is not intended to show any disrespect to President Obama or the esteemed office that he holds. I have great respect for both,” he said, receiving a standing ovation from more than 15.000 pro-Israel supporters.
Noting Israel’s proximity to Iran, Netanyahu said his country’s situation was more dire than that of the United States.
“American leaders worry about the security of their country,” he said. “Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country.”
Showing a graphic he said depicted Iran’s training, arming and dispatching of terrorists on five continents, Netanyahu said their “tentacles of terror” reached across the world.
“This is what Iran is doing now — without nuclear weapons. Imagine what Iran would do with nuclear weapons. And this same Iran vows to annihilate Israel. If it develops nuclear weapons, it would have the means to achieve that goal,” he said. “And as prime minister of Israel, I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them.”
I’m sure Chuckles got the OK from Zero to go to the speech. Chuck needs to show up for all the New York City vote during an election.
Rangel could care less about Israel and it doesn’t affect him politically.
Rangel is anti-Semitic.....is is obvious!
Sorry...COULDN’T care less...
Uh, aren’t there some other rules that Rangel has failed to follow?
Rangel can’t squeeze any money or votes out of this and the old bastard hates Jews anyway.
Wall Street got the word to Schumer. Done deal.
Don’t disrespect our president, black lawmakers tell Netanyahu
Some Democrats are beginning to realize that blind allegiance to the delusional Obama is placing them on the wrong side of history.
Chuckie is Jewish, he has to attend.
This is just another example of Rangel being a racist. He is simply providing cover to Obama, along with the majority of the Black Caucus. Being African-American is more important that being American.
Schemer is only doing this for votes.
Rangel doesn’t need to.
Of course. There will be lots of camera’s there.
If so, will they use "seat fillers" on the Dems" side like at the award shows ?
Schumer has SOME Jewish constituents. I don’t think Rangel does.
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