U.S. officials look to smooth Israel feathers

Two key figures to address AIPAC conference.

WASHINGTON — In a move that may ease — or exacerbate — spiraling tensions with Israel over a potential Iran nuclear deal, the White House has decided against snubbing America’s leading pro-Israel lobby and will send President Barack Obama’s national security adviser and U.N. ambassador to address its annual policy conference.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee announced Thursday that national security adviser Susan Rice and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power will speak to its conference that begins this weekend.

In their as-yet unscheduled appearances at the AIPAC conference, Rice and Power will stress the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and the administration’s commitment to Israel’s security, according to American officials.

But they will also make the administration’s case for the ongoing negotiations with Iran before an audience of more than 16,000 pro-Israel activists that is likely to be hostile to the talks. Israel backers are also deeply concerned by growing animosity between Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu over the Israeli prime minister’s plan to address Congress on Tuesday about his opposition to one of the president’s signature foreign policy goals.

In a break with protocol, the invitation for Netanyahu to speak was orchestrated by Republican congressional leaders without input from the White House or State Department, angering senior administration officials who believe it was politically motivated. Netanyahu declined an invitation to meet privately with Democratic members of Congress, and a number of Democrats have said they will not attend the speech.

No senior U.S. officials will meet Netanyahu during his trip to Washington. The administration has said the visit is too close to Israel’s upcoming elections and it doesn’t want to demonstrate any favoritism. Both Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry will be out of the country for the visit’s duration on travel that was organized only after the prime minister’s trip was announced.

After his speech, Netanyahu will meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, the leaders said in statements.

The administration’s choice of Rice and Power to address the AIPAC conference, at which Netanyahu will also speak, is an apparent effort to try to tamp down an increasingly vitriolic back-and-forth between the U.S. and its top Mideast ally. But it is not at all clear if it will have that effect.

Just two days ago, Rice sharply criticized Netanyahu’s impending visit, saying plans for the speech had “injected a degree of partisanship” into a U.S.Israel relationship that should be above politics.

“It’s destructive to the fabric of the relationship,” Rice told the Charlie Rose show. “It’s always been bipartisan. We need to keep it that way.”

And on Wednesday, Kerry openly questioned Netanyahu’s judgment in opposing a potential Iran deal.