Murphy going to Netanyahu speech after all

Photo by Connor Radnovich/Hearst Newspapers

Photo by Connor Radnovich/Hearst Newspapers

After weeks of uncertainty, Sen. Chris Murphy has decided to attend the speech before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and senior Democrat on the subcommittee dealing with U.S. policy in the Middle East, had been on the fence about the speech. Netanyahu has faced criticism among Democrats for accepting an invitation from House Speaker John Boehner without first consulting the White House, which they characterized as a breach of international protocol. Several Democrats have said they would boycott Netanyahu’s appearance.

President Obama said the White House does not normally invite foreign heads of state to visit Washington when they are facing re-election battles back home. Israeli voters go to the polls March 17. But Netanyahu, for his part,  was interested in a major forum in the U.S. in which to express his opposition to U.S. State Department-led negotiations with Iran over its nuclear capabilities. Netanyahu has long held Iran cannot be trusted, and its leaders would use negotiations and a possible agreement to buy time for secret development of a nuclear device that could be used against Israel.

“Senator Murphy believes the timing of this speech is a serious mistake and has urged that it be rescheduled for after the Israeli elections,” said Murphy spokeswoman Kaylie Hanson. “However, out of respect for the United States’ historic relationship with Israel, he plans to attend.”

 In an interview Feb. 12, was critical of the politics undergirding the visit, but stressed: “I want to make sure we don’t make this more than it really is.” Connecticut Reps. Jim Himes and Elizabeth Esty will go to the speech, as will Sen. Richard Blumenthal. All are Democrats.

 

Daniel Freedman