Though publicly everyone is downplaying the seriousness of the latest split between Israel and the US, privately officials are still fuming out Netanyahu’s planned March visit to lobby Congress for Iran sanctions.
Officials said that Netanyahu had effectively “spat in Obama’s face” by announcing the visit just two days after Obama warned him to stop lobby Congress in a phone call.
“There are things you simply don’t do,” noted one unnamed official quoted in the Israeli press, adding “Netanyahu ought to remember that President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that there will be a price.”
Netanyahu’s visit came at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner (R – OH), as Congressional hawks are trying to cobble together a veto-proof majority for the sanctions.
But Netanyahu’s involvement,which will come just weeks ahead of Israel’s election, is seen as primarily an effort to play politics on Iran, hoping to secure some last minute votes by making a high profile speech to a joint US Congress.
