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Netanyahu invited to speak at CPAC
The prime minister of Israel has been invited to speak at the conservative movement's annual conference in March, the American Conservative Union announced Monday.
An appearance by Benjamin Netanyahu in his current role – he's expected to win re-election later this month - would be certain to rekindle accusations that he's seeking to play a spoiler role in domestic U.S. politics after coming under fire for appearing to support Mitt Romney in the 2012 election. The prime minister's relations with the White House, already prickly, are coming under further strain with President Obama's decision to nominate for secretary of Defense a noted Israel critic, Chuck Hagel, who has long pushed for an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord.
Netanyahu, if he accepts, would be the first acting head of government to address the conference, according to the conservative Landmark Report. Parliamentarians Daniel Hannan of Great Britain and Geert Wilders of the Netherlands have attended in the past, as did Netanyahu himself in 2001 in between premierships.
“As we extend our second round of invitations to these conservative leaders, it is easy to see why CPAC 2013 is shaping up to be one of the best conferences yet,” ACU Chairman Al Cardenas said in a statement announcing the invitations. “We encourage conservatives across America to register today and join these leaders and thousands of others at CPAC 2013.”
A spokeswoman for the conference said House Budget Committee chairman and former vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is the only invited speaker who has confirmed his appearance so far.
The 40th annual conservative conference will take place March 14-16 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland.
