Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Sunday called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “arrogant” for going forward with his address to Congress this week and accused him of undermining President Obama.
Mrs. Feinstein, vice chairwoman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, took aim at Mr. Netanyahu for saying he would represent the “entire Jewish people” when he warns Congress about the nuclear deal being brokered with Iran.
“I think it is a rather arrogant statement,” the California Democrat said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“He doesn’t speak for me,” said Mrs. Feinstein, who is Jewish. “I think arrogance does not befit Israel. I think Israel is a nation that needs to be protected, that needs to stand free, that hopefully can work constructively with Palestinians to have a side-by-side state and to put an end to the bitterness that has plagued this whole area. “
Capitol Hill Democrats have protested Mr. Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress, which is set for Tuesday, because the leader of the Jewish state will sharply criticize the deal being crafted by the Obama administration and other Western countries to curb Iran’s nuclear program.
Mr. Netanyahu insists the deal is full of holes andwill allow a nuclear-armed Iran, an Islamic nation that has called for Israel’s destruction.
Democrats have criticized the timing of the speech because it comes just two weeks before Israel’s national elections. It also comes three weeks before a deadline for the deal with Iran.
Mrs. Feinstein said the timing of the speech made it look like a “political move.”
“Whether this political move can be effective or not I don’t know, but it’s not helpful,” she said. “It’s not helpful to attack our president. He’s our president and this brings the country together.”
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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