Senator Tom Carper will not be attending today’s address to congress by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He will be joining 40 other Democrats in boycotting the controversial address.
The Delaware Democrat described the Prime Minister’s speech as wholly inappropriate with the Israeli election just two weeks away.
Carper and other Democrats took sharp aim at how the address came about with House Speaker John Boehner inviting the Israeli leader without consultation with the White House.
Carper said the visit was a violation of protocol for visiting heads of state.
He also warned that it could weaken U.S.-Israeli relations.
The Delaware Democrat said he fears the Prime Minister’s visit is partly aimed at undermining the current nuclear talks with Iran.
Meanwhile, his fellow Democrats Senator Chris Coons and Congressman John Carney will be attending the address.
