President Obama is sending National Security Adviser Susan Rice and United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power to a major pro-Israel conference, a bit of counter programming to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Tuesday.
Obama chose to dispatch the surrogates after mulling whether to boycott the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference this year. Aides have searched for ways in recent days to rebuke the Netanyahu speech to Congress.
The addresses by Rice and Power will give Obama the chance to have his viewpoints aired before Netanyahu speaks to both chambers of Congress.
“We are hopeful that we can get back to a place where the national security of the United States, most importantly, but also the national security of Israel, can be enhanced by ensuring that our relationship is not subjected to partisan turbulence,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of the planned remarks by Rice and Power.
“I also would anticipate that you would hear them talk at least a little bit about why the administration believes that it serves the national security interests of the United States and of Israel to try to resolve the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program diplomatically,” he added.
Netanyahu will address AIPAC on Monday, a day before speaking to Congress.
The White House has repeatedly slammed the Netanyahu speech to Congress. And Obama has refused to meet with the Israeli prime minister during his trip to Washington.
Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry will both be out of the country when Netanyahu delivers his remarks.
Netanyahu is expected to use his speech to call for new sanctions on Iran, something Obama said he would veto as nuclear negotiations continue between Washington and Tehran.
As a result, numerous Democrats have pledged to boycott the Netanyahu congressional address.
