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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited to address the U.S. Congress, in an apparent breach of protocol between the White House and its main Middle East ally.

According to Reuters news agency, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress without consulting President Barack Obama.

The agency quoted an Israeli official as saying that Netanyahu, whose relationship with Obama has often been tense, was looking into the possibility of meeting with Obama when he comes to Washington to address a joint session of Congress on Feb. 11.

"The protocol would suggest that the leader of one country would contact the leader of another country when he’s traveling there. This particular event seems to be a departure from that protocol,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

Boehner announced the invitation the morning after Obama pledged in his State of the Union address to veto any legislation passed by Congress to toughen sanctions against Iran while Washington and other powers negotiate with Tehran over its nuclear program.

Asked by a reporter if inviting Netanyahu without speaking to the White House was a "poke in the eye" to Obama, Boehner, a Republican, said, "The Congress can make this decision on its own. I don't believe I'm poking anyone in the eye."

Lawmakers trying to amass enough support to override any veto by Obama are developing several pieces of Iran-related legislation, including a bill to tighten sanctions if a final nuclear agreement is not reached before the end of June.

On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a contentious hearing on Iran with administration officials. The Senate Banking Committee is due to vote on the sanctions bill next week.

Netanyahu's visit to the United States is scheduled for five weeks before Israel's March 17 elections. It could help him underscore his main campaign theme that he is best placed to tackle regional security threats.

Speaking to reporters traveling with Obama aboard Air Force One, Earnest said the White House was reserving judgment until there was a chance to discuss Netanyahu's trip with Israeli officials.

"We'll need to hear from them about what their plans are and what he plans to say in his remarks to Congress before we have a decision to make about any meeting," Earnest said.

In a statement announcing the invitation, Boehner said, "In this time of challenge, I am asking the prime minister to address Congress on the grave threats radical Islam and Iran pose to our security and way of life."

Iran's nuclear program has been one of the more contentious issues in the Netanyahu-Obama relationship. Congressional Republicans have accused the president of making too many concessions to Tehran and therefore not being sufficiently supportive of Israel.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified on Wednesday that there was still a "credible chance" for international negotiators to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program.

He said negotiators were aiming to conclude major elements of an agreement by the end of March and complete technical details by the end of June.

Lawmakers at Wednesday's hearing insisted that Congress should be allowed to vote on any final nuclear agreement. Some disagreed with the administration's strategy, including allowing Iran to continue low level uranium enrichment in any final pact.

"The more I hear from the administration ... the more it sounds like talking points that come straight out of Tehran," said Senator Robert Menendez, the leading Democrat on the Foreign Relations panel.

Boehner said the House would also likely at some point hold hearings on more sanctions against Iran.

*Agencies