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Majority of Israelis Think PM Should Cancel Congress Speech

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Israeli PM Netanyahu’s previous address before the joint sessions of Congress

As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu begins to re-think the format of his upcoming speech before the United States Congress, Israeli voters weigh in on that controversial speech.

According to a survey conducted by Army Radio and market research agency Millward Brown, a majority of respondents believe Netanyahu has no need to travel to Washington.

However, an overwhelming majority said the trip to the US and the speech there would not affect their vote for looming Israeli elections on March 17.

47 percent of respondents said the Prime Minister should cancel the speech, opposed to 34% who say he ought to go despite pressure within Israel and from abroad. 19 percent abstained.

The survey also examined how the saga over the Congress speech has affected support for Netanyahu (and the Likud party) in elections for the 20th Knesset.

19 percent of respondents said the Congress speech reduces the chances of them supporting Netanyahu, whereas 12% said the speech increases their support for the Prime Minister.

However, 63% registered that the speech did not affect their choice of vote whatsoever.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s team is considering changing the format of his planned address to Congress, Reuters reports Monday, due to the waves of criticism directed at Jerusalem over the invitation.

Netanyahu’s address to Congress on Iran was initially planned to be televised live, as important addresses have been in the past.

However, following the constant criticism leveled at Netanyahu for the invitation – which was extended to him by House Speaker John Boehner, but not directly by President Obama – the team is reportedly considering scheduling his address for a closed-door session of Congress instead.

Intense discussions have taken place regarding the address over the past week, a source told the news agency, with Likud divided over how to proceed.

Several options are on the table, including a possible address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) meeting in Washington that week instead of to Congress at all.

The speech, initiated by House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner without the knowledge of the White House, was met with an icy response by US President Barack Obama’s administration.

It also sparked a fiery backlash both in Israel and the US, and saw Democratic legislators debating whether or not to boycott, as well as American Jewish leaders urging Netanyahu to cancel.              (INN)

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