Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned trip to Washington in March is kicking up a diplomatic dust storm in the nation's capital. On Thursday, the White House said President Barack Obama would not meet the prime minister when he comes to the U.S. to address a joint session of Congress. The decision comes just one day after GOP lawmakers blindsided Obama, announcing to the public that Netanyahu would visit Washington on March 3 -- just two weeks before the Israeli election -- rather than the original February date, without giving the Obama administration so much as a heads up. Prime Minister: President Barack Obama (right) is withholding an invitation for Oval Office talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) during his March 3 visit to Washington because the administration does not want to appear to be taking sides with the Israeli election falling so close to the visit
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On Thursday, the White House said President Barack Obama would not meet the prime minister when he comes to the U.S. on March 3
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The White House said the decision was made to avoid the appearance of taking sides with the Israeli election just two weeks away from Netanyahu's U.S. visit
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The decision comes just one day after Republicans blindsided Obama, announcing the prime minister's visit without giving the administration so much as a heads up
Barack Obama
Obama
Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Obama
Warnings: @placeholder has vigorously warned that threatening Iran with new economic sanctions  could upend the negotiations and has vowed to veto any measure that lands on his desk
Benjamin Netanyahu
Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Netanyahu
@placeholder was originally scheduled to address Congress on Feb. 11.