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Title: US Democrats threaten not to attend Netanyahu’s Congress speech
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Published: Feb 4, 2015
Author: staff
Post Date: 2015-02-04 03:57:32 by Tatarewicz
Keywords: None
Views: 80
Comments: 3
PressTV... Dozens of American lawmakers have threatened not to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Iran speech at Congress to protest his visit to Washington next month. POLITICO reported on Tuesday that lawmakers and aides said House Democrats are “privately threatening to skip” the address on March 3. Last month, House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu to speak about imposing further sanctions against Iran at a joint session of Congress while Tehran and world powers are negotiating to reach a final nuclear agreement. The invitation came despite President Barack Obama’s threats to veto new Iran sanctions legislation. Netanyahu, who is against a comprehensive Iran nuclear accord, has been repeatedly trying to persuade congressmen to vote in favor of additional sanctions against Tehran. The White House announced that Obama would not meet with Netanyahu in Washington next month. A State Department official stated US Secretary of State John Kerry also would not meet with the Israeli leader, POLITICO reported. US Vice President Joe Biden might also skip the speech and his office has not commented about his attention. Biden, who is the president of the Senate, should sit beside Boehner behind the podium for addresses by foreign leaders. Many Democrats, including several Jewish members, are considering leaving some seats empty when Netanyahu is addressing Congress. Rep. Steve Cohen said he has discussed with his colleagues not to attend the session. “I just don’t know if it’s the proper response or not,” Cohen said. “But I just think it’s a mistake and it might be a proper protest. But I haven’t made that definite decision.” “With his [Netanyahu’s] election being so soon, and with the negotiations we have going on with Iran, he’s put himself in a political situation here that’s probably adverse to the best interest of Israel,” he added. Rep. John Yarmuth noted that he has not decided yet about attending the session. “It wouldn’t be an official boycott. I wouldn’t announce that I wasn’t going. But I don’t really blame Netanyahu — although I’m not a fan of Netanyahu — but I don’t blame him for coming,” he said. However, Boehner’s office reiterated that the speech would take place next month and Netanyahu can attend the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which is the powerful pro-Israel lobby. Meanwhile, AIPAC supported the speech and encouraged all members of Congress to “attend this important speech.” AGB/AGB
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#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
AIPAC would come unglued if republicans ever skipped a speech by Nutty Yahoo under a republican POTUS Meanwhile, AIPAC supported the speech and encouraged all members of Congress to “attend this important speech.”
-Alex Kurtagic
#2. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
Tell U.S. Congress not to attend Netanyahu’s speech Join us in raising our voices to protest Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned speech to the U.S. Congress, not because it’s a partisan snub, nor because the date is close to the Israeli elections, but because Netanyahu is going to Washington to undermine the U.S. strategy of diplomacy with Iran. Instead of letting diplomacy work, Netanyahu wants the U.S. to impose harsher sanctions on Iran, all but ensuring that talks collapse and increasing the risk of war. Please sign the petition: http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/? action_KEY=10843&tag=JVP20150127&track=JVP20150127
#3. To: X-15, All (#1)
For whatever reason that made me think, ... Does anyone have a list of the largest, most influential, and best funded lobbying groups or organizations in this country? Don't get me wrong, I realize what they are generally speaking, just curious if anyone knows of a factual list delineating in objective factual terms that order? AIPAC would come unglued if republicans ever skipped a speech by Nutty Yahoo under a republican POTUS
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