U.S.-Israel quarrel intensifies

Netanyahu’s speech to Congress next week fuels tensions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to address Congress next week,

WASHINGTON — The U.S. and Israel escalated their increasingly public spat Wednesday over Benjamin Netanyahu’s GOP-engineered congressional speech next week, with the Israeli prime minister accusing world powers of rolling over to allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. Secretary of State John Kerry openly questioned Netanyahu’s judgment on the issue.

The comments injected new tension into an already strained relationship between the close allies ahead of Netanyahu’s address to Congress next Tuesday. More Democratic lawmakers announced they would skip the speech, which was orchestrated by GOP leaders without the Obama administration’s knowledge.

Netanyahu hopes his speech will strengthen opposition to a potential nuclear deal with Iran, President Barack Obama’s signature foreign policy objective. U.S. and Iranian officials reported progress in negotiations this week on a deal that would clamp down on Tehran’s nuclear activities for at least 10 years but then slowly ease restrictions.

Netanyahu lashed out at the U.S. and other usual staunch allies of Israel.

“It appears that they have given up on that commitment and are ac- cepting that Iran will gradually, within a few years, develop capabilities to produce material for many nuclear weapons,” he said in Israel.

“They might accept this, but I am not willing to accept this,” he said in remarks delivered in Hebrew and translated.

Kerry, testifying on Capitol Hill, dismissed Netanyahu’s worries. He argued that a 2013 interim agreement with Iran that the prime minister also opposed had made Israel safer by freezing key aspects of the Islamic republic’s nuclear program.

“He may have a judgment that just may not be correct here,” Kerry said.

His comments, as well as statements from other top U.S. officials, made clear the Obama administration had no plans to mask its frustrations during Netanyahu’s visit.

Netanyahu’s plans to speak to Congress have irritated many Democratic members, but also have put them in a tough spot — fearing that they will appear to be anti-Israel if they don’t attend.

Still, a number of Democrats have said they plan to skip the session, with Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky becoming the latest on Wednesday.

Kaine said Netanyahu’s speech was “highly inappropriate” given its proximity to Israel’s March 27 Israeli elections.

AP Secretary of State John Kerry questioned Israeli leaders’ judgment on the Iranian nuclear issue.

AP Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the U.S. had caved in to Iran over nuclear weapons.