solid majority of Americans say that the Republican leadership erred in inviting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress without informing the White House, a poll commissioned by CNN indicated on Wednesday.
According to the survey, 63 percent disagreed with the move, while 33 percent believe it was proper, CNN reported.
The poll surveyed 1,027 American adults from all across the 50 states, with a margin of sampling error of 3 percentage points.
The survey also asked respondents whether “the United States should take Israel’s side, take the Palestinians’ side, or not take either side.”
Two-thirds believe that the US should take neither side, while 29 percent responded that Washington should back Israel. Just two percent said the US should take the Palestinians’ side.
The prime minister\’s speech has ignited a crisis in relations with the Obama administration, which believes that Netanyahu\’s goal is to undermine the president\’s foreign policy while driving a wedge between the White House and Democrats.
Despite the poll numbers, Netanyahu will have significant support from many Democrats when he gives his speech to Congress next month, visiting Republican congressman Robert Pittenger told the premier during a meeting on Tuesday.