Former Defense secretary ‘afraid’ of impact of Netanyahu speech

Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is “afraid” what will happen when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks before a joint session of Congress next month.

“I’m afraid what is going to happen here with what Netanyahu will do is to make this partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans and that makes it a very dangerous trap,” Panetta said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

{mosads}Netanyahu has said he plans to use his speech before Congress to criticize the administration’s negotiations with Iran, which he claims are threatening Israel.

Panetta said he hopes lawmakers are able to find another way to listen to Netanyahu’s views without it being used as a “partisan presentation.” 

“We need to get back to presidents and Congresses who can work together to try to confront the challenges we face,” Panetta added.