Many Israelis deplore Netanyahu's U.S. visit

Michele Chabin | Special for USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Kerry questions Netanyahu's Judgment on Iran nuclear talks Negotiations over Iran's nuclear program have pitted U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Video provided by Newsy

JERUSALEM — President Obama is not the only one unhappy about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned visit to Washington next week. Many Israelis here are, too.

Netanyahu's trip has produced a backlash among those who worry about the consequence: plunging traditionally close relations between U.S. and Israeli leaders to an unprecedented low point.

Obama, administration officials and some congressional Democrats are refusing to meet with Netanyahu next week because the prime minister accepted an invitation from House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to address Congress on Tuesday without clearing the speech with the White House, as is diplomatic protocol. The president has said it is inappropriate for him to meet Netanyahu just two weeks before Israeli elections.

At the root of Netanyahu's visit and Obama's snub is a dispute over U.S. negotiations with Iran on Iran's nuclear program. Netanyahu has warned that the U.S. is making too many concessions and the U.S. is accusing the Israeli leader of trying to stir up GOP congressional opposition to sabotage a deal.

Most Israelis appear to back Netanyahu on the Iran nuclear talks. A recent Times of Israel poll found that 72% do not believe Obama will limit Iran's nuclear capabilities. Still, many Israelis also fear that Netanyahu's visit will lead to an irreparable rift with its strongest supporter.

"From an Israeli perspective, the prospective nuclear deal with Iran, at least as reported, appears indeed inadequate," Raphael Ahren, diplomatic correspondent for the Times of Israel, wrote in an analysis. But Netanyahu's speech "could also antagonize the government of Israel's closest and most powerful ally for years to come."

"Like everyone else I'm afraid that Iran will develop nuclear weapons," said Iyad Abed Rabbo, an Arab taxi driver with Israeli citizenship. "Netanyahu's message is spot on, but his timing is all wrong."

A "narrow majority" of Israelis oppose Netanyahu's speech before Congress, says Jonathan Rynhold, a senior researcher at the Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar ilan University. But, he says, the controversy "is unlikely to affect him during the election." Polls show a tight race for the most seats in Israel's parliament, or Knesset, between Netanyahu's conservative Likud Party and a liberal coalition, the Zionist Union.

This week, testy relations between the White House and Netanyahu got uglier. Susan Rice, the president's national security adviser, charged Tuesday that Netanyahu's trip is "destructive" to U.S.-Israeli ties and smacks of partisanship.

For his part, Netanyahu said during a campaign speech Wednesday that the U.S. and other countries negotiating with Iran appear to have "given up" on their commitment to thwart Iran's nuclear capabilities.

"I respect the White House and the president of the United States, but on such a critical topic that could determine whether we exist or not, it is my duty to do everything to prevent this great danger to the state of Israel," Netanyahu said.

Trying to defuse partisan tensions, Senate Democrats planning to boycott Tuesday's speech proposed a separate meeting with Netanyahu, but he declined.

Netanyahu, however, will meet with both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Tuesday afternoon after the speech.

Netanyahu's political opponents are trying to capitalize on his soured relations with Washington.

Isaac Herzog, head of the Zionist Union Party, warned Thursday that the congressional speech will harm Israel's ties with the United States.

"I call on Netanyahu again: Stop. Enough, Bibi. ... Don't go. You will cause strategic damage to Israel's standing and to the relationship with the United States," Herzog told a press conference.

Researcher Rynhold said the U.S.-Israeli relationship "is bigger than any crisis" between any one U.S. administration and one Israeli government. "However, by making support for Israel in Congress a partisan issue," he added, "Netanyahu has damaged one of the foundations of the relationship: bipartisan support for Israel."

Lawrence Feldman, an American-Israeli educator based in Israel, agreed: "The speech is counterproductive — unless, of course, his goal is simply to score points domestically before the election, and damn the diplomatic consequences."