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All Israelis, Even Those Who Disagree'

'Arrogant' Netanyahu 'Doesn't Speak for Me', Says Jewish Lawmaker Dianne Feinstein

By Jesse Byrnes, The Hill

02 March 15

en. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, saying he is "arrogant" and does not speak for all Jews.

"He doesn't speak for me on this," the Jewish lawmaker said on CNN's "State of the Union" regarding the Israeli leader's opposition to a push on Iran's nuclear program.

"He doesn't at all speak for me," she added.

Netanyahu's intensely vocal opposition to an international deal over Iran's nuclear program will be on full display, as he addresses a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Many Democrats have boycotted the speech, which he accepted at the invitation of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), leaving the White House out of the loop.

"Since he is coming, I intend to go and will listen respectively. I don't intend to jump up and down," said Feinstein, vice chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Netanyahu delivered remarks from the Western Wall, Judaism's most sacred site, on the eve of his trip to the United States on Sunday.

“My responsibility is to worry not only about the State of Israel, but also the future of the Jewish people,” Netanyahu said on Saturday. “And for that reason, we are strongly opposed to the agreement being formulated between the world powers and Iran that could endanger Israel’s very existence.”

Feinstein, noted that Senate leadership will meet with Netanyahu during his visit, criticized his remarks.

"I think it's a rather arrogant statement. I think the Jewish community is like any other community. There are different points of view," she said.

"I think that arrogance does not befit Israel. Candidly, I think Israel is a nation that needs to be protected, that needs to stand free, that hopefully can work constructively with Palestinians to have a side-by-side state, and to put an end to the bitterness that has plagued this whole area."