Jewish Democrats resent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and stand behind President Obama’s decision to reject a meeting with him, while warning PM Netanyahu to keep out of U.S. politics, reports The Hil.
California representative Henry Waxman blamed PM Netanyahu for negative press Obama sustained as a result of his refusal to rearrange his schedule to meet with the Israeli leader during the recent UN General Assembly convention in New York.
Massachusetts representative Barney Frank said the fallout over the meeting indicates that “Maybe Netanyahu’s for Romney. And he’s making a mistake if he is.” Romney called Obama’s refusal to meet with Netanyahu “confusing and troubling”, as did 128 House Republicans who wrote an “astounded” letter to the president on September 13, urging him to reconsider.
Franks said he believes Israel is mistaken in its attempts to convince the US to use a military option against Iran, saying the American public would not support the measure because “America’s not ready to go to war until it’s absolutely necessary.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu has been very vocal about Israel’s concerns over Iranian nuclear progress, and has urged the United States to identify “red lines” Iran wouldn’t be allowed to cross if it wanted to avoid a military confrontation.
He has also insisted that he is not motivated by US elections, but rather the security of the State of Israel.
“What’s guiding me, contrary to what I have read in the United States, is not the American political calendar,” Netanyahu told CNN, according to the report. “It’s the Iranian nuclear calendar.”
Romney called Obama’s decision not to meet with Netanyahu ”confusing and troubling” during a fundraiser in New York. And 128 House Republicans wrote to the president to urge him to reconsider.
