Boehner, White House Clash Over Netanyahu Invite

Instead, Boehner has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress next month. He didn’t consult with the White House before extending the invitation, and administration officials are not happy. Press secretary Josh Earnest said Wednesday afternoon that Boehner’s invitation is a breach of normal diplomatic protocol. Typically, a nation’s leader would contact the White House before planning a visit to the United States, he said. The White House heard about the invite from Boehner’s office, not from the Israelis.

 

According to pool reports, Earnest called the invite “interesting,” and when asked if the White House was annoyed because Boehner did not reach out first, he said, “No.”

 

Earnest said the White House is reserving judgment about the invite until U.S. officials talk to their Israeli counterparts. Boehner’s office confirmed that Netanyahu has accepted, and will give a speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 11. The date is significant: It’s the 36th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution.

 

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