House Speaker John Boehner elaborated on his decision to invite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, saying the country needs to have a “serious conversation” about the threats posed by radical Islam.
“There is a serious threat that exists in the world and the president last night kind of papered over them,” Boehner told reporters Wednesday, in reference to Obama’s State of the Union address. “And the fact is there needs to be a more serious conversation in America about how serious the threat is from radical islamic jihadists and the threat posed by Iran.”
The Speaker noted that while he did not consult the White House before he invited the Isreali Prime Minister, Congress can make such invitations on its own and stressed the importation of protecting the U.S. and its allies.
“That’s why I’ve invited Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress on the grave threats of radical Islam and the threat that Iran poses to not only the Middle East but frankly to the world,” he said.
Boehner added that he does not believe he is “poking anyone in the eye” with the invitation.
CNN reports that Netanyahu has accepted the February 11 invitation.
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