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Israeli Prime Minister Addresses Congress

A foreign leader travels to Washington to address Congress, but the controversial trip divides U.S. lawmakers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Capital Hill sparked debate, largely along party lines earlier this week.

House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio invited the prime minister to speak in front of Congress just two weeks before voters go to the polls in Israel, a decision President Obama and White House officials made clear they do not agree with. Nearly 60 democrats, including Ohio Representatives Marcia Fudge and Marcy Kaptur refused to attend Netanyahu's speech, claiming Speaker Boehner's move to be partisan - undermining the president.

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel and Governor John Kasich, who is considering a presidential run in 2016, were in Washington for Netanyahu's speech.

Israel has historically been a bipartisan issue for congress. If something is bipartisan, it has the support of two political parties that normally don't agree on much.

stephanie.jarvis@ideastream.org | 216-916-6340