“If it really is that important for Congress to hear from Netanyahu in person,” writes Matt Duss, “I propose this conflict-ending solution: Invite Netanyahu to testify. Let’s remember that Prime Minister Netanyahu has some experience with this, having testified before Congress in 2002 in support of the invasion of Iraq, where he told the House Government and Reform Oversight Committee, ‘There is no question whatsoever that Saddam is seeking and is working and is advancing towards the development of nuclear weapons — no question whatsoever,’ and assured them, ‘If you take out Saddam, Saddam’s regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.’ ”

“The behind-the-scenes jockeying appears to be accelerating in the standoff over whether Benjamin Netanyahu will speak to a joint session of Congress, a move many Democrats view as an outgrowth of Republican efforts to influence the coming Israeli elections and scuttle ongoing White House negotiations with Iran over the future of that country’s nuclear program,” writes Greg Sargent. “One thing is clear: Many Democrats would like this mess to go away, because it’s putting them in an awkward position. But it isn’t going away.”

Now that Even Abraham Foxman™ and Even Commentary Magazine have said that the speech is a bad idea, it has seemed a matter of time before Benjamin Netanyahu develops a cold or hangnail, has a pressing last-minute commitment, needs to wash his hair, or has some other reason not to become the first foreign leader ever to criticize existing U.S. policy address before a joint meeting of Congress.

In a highly critical statement on Tuesday morning, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont called the speech arranged by House Speaker John Boehner “a tawdry and highhanded stunt that has embarrassed not only Israel but the Congress itself.”

The audience for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on March 3 is shaping up to be largely Republican — and almost completely white. Many members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they’re planning to skip the speech, calling it a slight to President Barack Obama that they can’t and won’t support.

After having earlier announced that it will support the barring of radical Arab MK Hanin Zoabi from the Knesset, the joint Labor-Hatnua list, known as the “Zionist Camp”, has changed its mind.

“It is not enough to label yourself ‘The Zionist Camp’ – a true Zionist does not give in to threats by the Arabs,” Liberman wrote on his Facebook page in response to the decision by Zionist Camp leaders to avoid demanding that the Central Election Committee disqualify Hanin Zoabi from running and the election.

“With elections around the corner, conservative Israeli politicians are feeding racism against Israeli Arabs, hoping to increase support at the ballot box,” writes Mazal Mualem.

Israelis recognize that the relationship between their country and the United States government has gone downhill under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but don’t believe the strained ties have seriously damaged their connection to U.S. Jewry, according to a newly released poll by the Ruderman Family Foundation. The survey also indicates that most Israelis don’t blame their government for the deterioration they perceive between the two countries and believe Jerusalem works to strengthen Israel-U.S. ties.

Israel has to pay the price for its policies, says Hanin Zoabi.

European Union member states are planning new sanctions against Israel that will be implemented if peace negotiations with Palestinians do not resume following the March elections, it was reported Tuesday.

In the northern Jordan Valley last week, Israeli forces destroyed a 1,000 metre pipeline built to provide water to Palestinian communities. In East Jerusalem, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been cut off from a regular supply of running water for nearly a year. In Gaza, the water infrastructure has been decimated and in the homes that do receive water it is still undrinkable. Water and who controls it has become a key part of Israel’s occupation, with the Palestinian territories; West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, in a constant struggle for the vital resource.

Palestinian public-sector workers receive only partial salaries as Israel punishes the Abbas administration for its ICC bid by withholding tax funds it collects on the PA’s behalf.

Hundreds of police officers descended on the Al-Karm neighborhood of Lydd (“Lod” in Hebrew, “Lydda” in English) Tuesday morning in order to evict single mother Hannah al-Naqib and her four children from their home, and to demolish it. Police blocked off the surrounding streets and prevented local residents from approaching while they were forcibly evicting the mother and her children. Around 100 residents managed to break through and protested the eviction and demolition.

Suicide cases are increasing in the Gaza Strip as a result of the wars waged by Israel that cause psychological, economic and social problems.