PD Editorial: Divisions, risk behind prime minister’s speech

Today’s address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress comes with no shortage of intrigue, anger and drama. It also comes with a certain amount of risk.

By stepping to the podium at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner - bypassing the White House in the process - Netanyahu runs the risk of alienating many of Israel’s long-time supporters, particularly Democrats.

One doesn’t have to try very hard to see Netanyahu’s actions as a snub to President Barack Obama and his administration.

He also risks being seen as taking sides in the political stalemate that has come to define Washington politics. Netanyahu’s speech on Israel’s security comes at a time when Congress can’t even agree on funding this nation’s own Department of Homeland Security beyond the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s Republican hosts are the very ones holding Homeland Security hostage to force Obama to rescind executive orders on immigration. Netanyahu picks a particularly volatile and dysfunctional time to play favorites in Washington.

The plans of our two local congressional representatives reflect the very divisions that exist across the country. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, has said he will attend the speech while Sen. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, has said he will not. “While, Congressman Thompson understands the importance of hearing from international leaders, he is concerned that the speech has become overtly political,” said Austin Vevurka, Thompson’s senior adviser. He said Thompson hopes that the speech is rescheduled in a way “that respects long-established diplomatic protocol.”

The prime minister also risks the potential of having his gambit backfire on him in Israel’s general election in two weeks.

But the biggest threat is the potential of having his message lost. When Netanyahu begins his remarks at 7:45 a.m., he’s expected to lobby Congress for more stringent sanctions against Iran and urge the American people to oppose a nuclear deal now in the works.

The terms of the agreement call for limited production of nuclear fuel in Iran for at least 10 years. Netanyahu seeks a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrasructure, noting Tehran’s history of violating such agreements and the real threat to Israel’s existence if Iran succeeds in developing nuclear weapons.

Although Netanyahu overreached when he claimed to be speaking on behalf of all Jews, these are real concerns for the people of Israel - and should be for this nation as well. Given that, the focus of today’s discussions should be on production of nuclear weapons in Iran not Washington protocol. Unfortunately, the ham-handed way this visit has been orchestrated almost assures the primary focus of this speech will be the speaker himself and the things left unsaid about Obama.