http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-election-chief-puts-curbs-netanyahus-speech-u-151134551.html
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The head of Israel's election commission acted on Monday to limit any pre-election boost Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may get from a March 3 speech to the U.S. Congress in which he will warn of the threat from Iran's nuclear program.
The speech has caused controversy in Israel and the United States, where the Democrats and the White House are angry that the Republican speaker, John Boehner, invited Netanyahu to speak at a sensitive time in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and six big powers including Washington, and only two weeks before Israel's closely fought March 17 election.
Following complaints from opposition parties, election chief Salim Joubran decided that Netanyahu's address should be broadcast with a five-minute delay in Israel, giving news editors time to cut any statements deemed partisan.
"Editors-in-chief of broadcast channels will watch and make sure that nothing the prime minister says can be construed as election campaigning," Joubran said in a statement. "Any campaigning will be omitted from the broadcast."
President Barack Obama, at odds with Netanyahu over the Israeli prime minister's criticism of the nuclear talks, will not meet him during his visit, saying it is a breach of protocol to receive a foreign leader before an election.
In Israel, Netanyahu has been roundly criticized even by some of his right-wing allies, mostly for appearing to put his ties to the Republican Party ahead of the close relationship Israel has always had with the United States.
After weeks of negative commentary, officials close to the prime minister's office said last week the format of the speech could be changed, with Netanyahu possibly speaking behind closed doors or in smaller groups of congressmen rather than in a primetime televised address.
But Netanyahu appeared to put paid to any change of plans, saying he was determined to honor the invitation. The Israeli leader has vowed to foil what he says would be a "bad and dangerous agreement" on Iran's nuclear program.
as usual Beohner's invite was a double edged sword with both key figures supposedly gaining Netanyahu's people obviously don't trust his motives for excepting the invite and breaking protocol of US not seeing foreign dignitaries just weeks before their elections so as not to give a hint of impropriety. Beohner will we know they take any opportunity to slap Pres. but like all the others he's batting .ooooo this will be the backfire heard around the world. both have to now follow through so as not to give away what we already know both relish the chance to take a swat at Pres. Netanyahu because Pres. won't wave the saber with him, Beohner well sel explanatory.
