House Speaker John Boehner either missed much of the drama of elementary school or ruled over his childhood schoolyard with an iron fist.
Ditto for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
EDITORIAL
There is no other explanation for Boehner’s impetuous, insulting and dangerous decision this week to break foreign policy protocol and invite Netanyahu to address Congress in February without consulting the White House. The same applies to Netanyahu’s foolish decision to accept the invitation.
“I don’t believe I’m poking anyone in the eye,” an innocent Boehner told reporters on Wednesday after a shocked White House scrambled to react to the news.
Hogwash.
Boehner and Netanyahu undoubtedly meant to poke President Obama, bruising him and the vital working relationship between the U.S — specifically U.S. Democrats — and Israel.
Obama will continue to support Israel and work with Netanyahu, of course. It is in the U.S.’ interest. But this move frays an already-tense relationship and undermines ongoing talks aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. It also draws a wedge between the Republican-led Congress and the Democratic-led White House on Israel.
Netanyahu rejects negotiations with the Iranians over its nuclear program, talks that are set to end this summer. Meanwhile, bipartisan legislation is pending in Congress that would impose significant new sanctions on Iran after the June 30 deadline.
Obama has made clear his intent to veto that legislation, saying the threat of sanctions will destroy any chance of reaching an agreement to get Iran to freeze its nuclear program.
He is right.
For Congress to threaten new sanctions during talks between Iran, the U.S. and other world powers profoundly handicaps the negotiators and gives Iran an excuse to walk away. The collapse of negotiations could easily lead to an armed conflict.
Meddling now in the negotiations — at the moment when a credible deal is possible — can’t amount to any good. And, most important, there is plenty of time to impose stiffer sanctions on Iran if negotiations fall apart.
The Israeli prime minister is always welcome in the U.S.
But not now.
Not like this.
