Rep. Sam Farr, D- Carmel, released the following statement announcing that he would attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress this week:
“It is upsetting that the Republican leadership has invited a foreign leader to deliver a politically motivated speech to Congress," Farr said. "The U.S. Capitol should never be the backdrop for the leader of another country to deliver a rebuke of our foreign policy. Furthermore, Speaker Boehner should not have extended an invitation this close to the Israeli election and the Prime Minister should not have accepted that invitation. The House chamber is not a venue for hosting foreign campaign events.
Farr continued: “Despite my serious concerns for the motives of all involved, I have decided to attend the speech. Israel is one of our closest allies and the office of Prime Minister deserves our respectful attendance – the same respect we expect to be shown to our President while visiting another nation.”
Farr will attend, not support Netanyahu speech
Central Coast congressman calls speech a ‘politically-motivated’ campaign event
