Netanyahu misled over Congress invite, Israeli minister suggests

An Israeli minister has suggested prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu was misled into thinking an invitation to address the US Congress next month was backed by the Democrats.

Netanyahu was invited by the Republican speaker of the house, John Boehner, who originally described the gesture as bipartisan.

The White House is upset about the event coming two weeks before Israeli elections and the fact Mr Netanyahu is expected to be critical of US policy on Iran.

Deputy Israeli foreign minister Tzachi Hanegbi said: "It appears that the speaker of Congress made a move, in which we trusted, but which it ultimately became clear was a one sided move and not a move by both sides."– (Reuters)