Speaking of the Obama/Netanyahu Congressional address controversy, we were disappointed with comments issued by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY). To be sure, he voiced support for Mr. Netanyahu’s right to make the case to Congress against a nuclear Iran. Indeed, he said it is in the interest of both the United States and Israel that “we listen to [Mr. Netanyahu’s] views very carefully.”
But it was Mr. Nadler’s remarks about Speaker Boehner’s role that gave us pause. He chided Mr. Boehner for
extending an invitation to address Congress at this time and without appropriate consultation with the Administration and both parties in the House and Senate as diplomatic protocol demands…. He has demonstrated that he is willing to…put partisan advantage over Israel’s security. That the Speaker would seek to undermine the historic bipartisan support for Israel in this way is an unprecedented, reprehensible act worthy of condemnation by both sides of the aisle, and from all friends of Israel….
Raising the issue of political partisanship was as unnecessary as it was unfortunate. Just because the House of Representatives is controlled by the Republicans doesn’t mean that any disagreement it has with a Democratic president is necessarily driven purely by partisanship.
Moreover, inasmuch as Prime Minister Netanyahu accepted Mr. Boehner’s invitation, Mr. Nadler has in effect branded him as being party to a partisan challenge to the president of the United States. Indeed, Congressman Nadler asserted that “It would be very wise for both parties to this invitation to consider measures to mitigate the damage this political maneuvering has inflicted.”
Congressman Nadler was certainly right when he said that “[T]rue friends of Israel understand that bipartisan support – going back to Harry Truman – has been essential for the safety of Israel and to the success of the U.S.-Israel strategic partnership.” But “true friends” of Israel also ought to avoid gratuitously indulging in toxic analysis to score some political points.