Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken says he will skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Tuesday
Franken, who is Jewish, said the event has become a "partisan spectacle" in part because House Speaker John Boehner arranged it without first advising President Barack Obama. Franken said it's also inappropriate coming a few weeks before the Israeli elections. The former Saturday Night Live writer and actor said he'd feel uncomfortable being part of an event that, "I don't believe should be happening."
He added that after the speech, he expects Congress to reaffirm its traditional bipartisan support for Israel.
Most Democrats in the House and Senate are attending the speech, however unhappy they are about how it was arranged. A few dozen in the House and Senate have opted to skip.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.