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| Similar to a State of the Union Address, but More Electric | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — It had the trappings of the State of the Union address: a packed and rapt House chamber, suffocating security, lawmakers lining the aisles, a powerful world leader at the microphone — and a partisan chasm over the words and the man delivering them. | WASHINGTON — It had the trappings of the State of the Union address: a packed and rapt House chamber, suffocating security, lawmakers lining the aisles, a powerful world leader at the microphone — and a partisan chasm over the words and the man delivering them. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in the House chamber on Tuesday morning may have even divided lawmakers more than the annual ritual by the president, which is often quickly forgotten. Rather, some said that Tuesday’s appearance would be a moment they would long remember. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in the House chamber on Tuesday morning may have even divided lawmakers more than the annual ritual by the president, which is often quickly forgotten. Rather, some said that Tuesday’s appearance would be a moment they would long remember. |
| Republicans embraced Mr. Netanyahu’s speech as a compelling argument for drawing a strong line against a nuclear Iran, while many Democrats condemned it as a polarizing and provocative challenge of President Obama’s policy delivered in the very seat of American government. | Republicans embraced Mr. Netanyahu’s speech as a compelling argument for drawing a strong line against a nuclear Iran, while many Democrats condemned it as a polarizing and provocative challenge of President Obama’s policy delivered in the very seat of American government. |
| Foremost among Democratic critics was Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the party leader, who appeared incredulous and furious throughout the speech. As she rose and sat down during standing ovations, the piqued expression Ms. Pelosi wore made it clear she was rising only out of obligation. She occasionally shook her head in disapproval and repeatedly turned to make remarks to her colleagues as Mr. Netanyahu spoke. | Foremost among Democratic critics was Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the party leader, who appeared incredulous and furious throughout the speech. As she rose and sat down during standing ovations, the piqued expression Ms. Pelosi wore made it clear she was rising only out of obligation. She occasionally shook her head in disapproval and repeatedly turned to make remarks to her colleagues as Mr. Netanyahu spoke. |
| In a statement after Mr. Netanyahu finished, Ms. Pelosi said that his tone left her “near tears throughout” and that she was “saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States.” | In a statement after Mr. Netanyahu finished, Ms. Pelosi said that his tone left her “near tears throughout” and that she was “saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States.” |
| Republicans dismissed such reactions and said the speech underscored the strong ties between the two countries. They said Mr. Netanyahu’s warnings about Iran’s intent should be heeded. | Republicans dismissed such reactions and said the speech underscored the strong ties between the two countries. They said Mr. Netanyahu’s warnings about Iran’s intent should be heeded. |
| “No country understands better the threat that a nuclear armed Iran presents than the Israelis,” Senator Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and the majority leader, said. “We appreciate his coming, we were grateful for his advice.” | “No country understands better the threat that a nuclear armed Iran presents than the Israelis,” Senator Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican and the majority leader, said. “We appreciate his coming, we were grateful for his advice.” |
| Mr. McConnell and others also said Mr. Netanyahu’s comments reinforced their view that the Obama administration could be outmaneuvered in nuclear talks with a duplicitous negotiating partner. They said the speech gave new momentum to legislation giving Congress the right to approve any deal. | Mr. McConnell and others also said Mr. Netanyahu’s comments reinforced their view that the Obama administration could be outmaneuvered in nuclear talks with a duplicitous negotiating partner. They said the speech gave new momentum to legislation giving Congress the right to approve any deal. |
| “Any agreement must be accountable, enforceable and verifiable,” said Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, a member of the Senate Republican leadership. | “Any agreement must be accountable, enforceable and verifiable,” said Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, a member of the Senate Republican leadership. |
| No matter which party he or she belonged to, no lawmaker who was a veteran of the usually tame ceremonial speeches delivered to Congress by foreign dignitaries could remember one like Mr. Netanyahu’s, where started out with grace notes before lashing out at efforts by the White House to reach an agreement with Iran and asserting that Israel would act to defend itself. | No matter which party he or she belonged to, no lawmaker who was a veteran of the usually tame ceremonial speeches delivered to Congress by foreign dignitaries could remember one like Mr. Netanyahu’s, where started out with grace notes before lashing out at efforts by the White House to reach an agreement with Iran and asserting that Israel would act to defend itself. |
| The speech was a powerful draw for politicians and for prominent American Jews. There were conservative news media figures such as Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, and Mark Levin, a talk show host. Sheldon Adelson, a casino magnate and Republican megadonor, sat a few seats over from Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker in whose 2012 presidential campaign Mr, Adelson invested $100 million. There was Alan Dershowitz, a famous lawyer, who sat with Norm Coleman, a former Republican senator from Minnesota. | The speech was a powerful draw for politicians and for prominent American Jews. There were conservative news media figures such as Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, and Mark Levin, a talk show host. Sheldon Adelson, a casino magnate and Republican megadonor, sat a few seats over from Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker in whose 2012 presidential campaign Mr, Adelson invested $100 million. There was Alan Dershowitz, a famous lawyer, who sat with Norm Coleman, a former Republican senator from Minnesota. |
| Even as they criticized the tone of the speech and faulted Mr. Netanyahu for rejecting an agreement that had not yet been reached, Democrats said they did not think the furor over his appearance would permanently damage the relationship between the two nations. | Even as they criticized the tone of the speech and faulted Mr. Netanyahu for rejecting an agreement that had not yet been reached, Democrats said they did not think the furor over his appearance would permanently damage the relationship between the two nations. |
| “Our friendship and alliance with Israel is based on decades of trust and working relationships,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. | “Our friendship and alliance with Israel is based on decades of trust and working relationships,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. |
| Even so, he said he checked with the Senate historian and determined that never before had so many lawmakers — dozens on the Democratic side — gone public with plans to boycott the speech. | Even so, he said he checked with the Senate historian and determined that never before had so many lawmakers — dozens on the Democratic side — gone public with plans to boycott the speech. |
| “That’s never happened before,” he said. “It was much more partisan and political than it ever should have been.” | “That’s never happened before,” he said. “It was much more partisan and political than it ever should have been.” |
| Other Democrats were much more outspoken about how damaging and inappropriate the speech was in their eyes, saying the appearance seemed more timed to Mr. Netanyahu’s political needs in a coming election in Israel at the cost of undermining the administration’s talks with Iran at a critical moment. | Other Democrats were much more outspoken about how damaging and inappropriate the speech was in their eyes, saying the appearance seemed more timed to Mr. Netanyahu’s political needs in a coming election in Israel at the cost of undermining the administration’s talks with Iran at a critical moment. |
| “This is a prime minister who has never seen a war that he did not want our country to fight,” said Representative Jared Huffman, Democrat of California. | “This is a prime minister who has never seen a war that he did not want our country to fight,” said Representative Jared Huffman, Democrat of California. |
| Trying to show divisions among Democrats on Mr. Netanyahu’s appearance, Republicans circulated comments by Representative Brad Sherman, Democrat of California, taking issue with Ms. Pelosi’s view. | Trying to show divisions among Democrats on Mr. Netanyahu’s appearance, Republicans circulated comments by Representative Brad Sherman, Democrat of California, taking issue with Ms. Pelosi’s view. |
| “I disagree with the House Democratic leader, whom I hold in high regard,” Mr. Sherman said in a statement. “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech was not condescending.” | “I disagree with the House Democratic leader, whom I hold in high regard,” Mr. Sherman said in a statement. “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech was not condescending.” |
| Other Democrats said they recognized that there were going to be differences in the way members of their party viewed the address. | Other Democrats said they recognized that there were going to be differences in the way members of their party viewed the address. |
| “Some people are going to say it’s too aggressive, disrespectful, and on and on,” said Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia. “I just think basically what we heard is a passionate plea. A very passionate plea. And you know what, I wanted to very much hear the speech and the delivery of the speech, the commitment they have.” | “Some people are going to say it’s too aggressive, disrespectful, and on and on,” said Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia. “I just think basically what we heard is a passionate plea. A very passionate plea. And you know what, I wanted to very much hear the speech and the delivery of the speech, the commitment they have.” |
| But to some of his colleagues, the Republican invitation to the prime minister elevated Mr. Netanyahu into a peer of Mr. Obama at the very site many Americans most associate with a presidential address. | But to some of his colleagues, the Republican invitation to the prime minister elevated Mr. Netanyahu into a peer of Mr. Obama at the very site many Americans most associate with a presidential address. |
| “He took the place of the president,” said Representative Steve Cohen, Democrat of Tennessee, who did not attend the speech. “It was putting him on an equal level with the president of the United States in Washington, D.C., in the Congress. And that was wrong.” | “He took the place of the president,” said Representative Steve Cohen, Democrat of Tennessee, who did not attend the speech. “It was putting him on an equal level with the president of the United States in Washington, D.C., in the Congress. And that was wrong.” |