Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could very well pull the plug on his upcoming visit to the United States to address Congress, says Morton "Mort" Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America.
"The odds are 50/50 that he will come and 50/50 he'll back out. He's under enormous pressure now from many political people and Jewish leaders," Klein told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on
Newsmax TV.
Story continues below video.
Note: Watch Newsmax TV now on DIRECTV Ch. 349 and DISH Ch. 223
Get Newsmax TV on your cable system – Click Here Now
"They're wrong. Netanyahu should come to the United States and speak about a serious issue that affects us as Americans."
On March 3, Netanyahu is set to address Congress on the dangers of Iran's growing nuclear program. He was invited by GOP House Speaker John Boehner, but the invite was not coordinated with the White House, which later announced that President Barack Obama would not meet with Netanyahu during the visit.
Netanyahu and Obama have a frosty relationship at best. The prime minister recently blasted international leaders including Obama for negotiating what he said would be a "dangerous" pact allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons,
according to Israel National News.
Some Democrat lawmakers have hinted they will not attend Netanyahu's address on Capitol Hill.
"The congressional people who say he should not come and speak about the danger of Iran getting nuclear weapons, to me are anti-patriots and it's anti-American," Klein said.
"We need to hear from an expert on this issue that affects us for our own security as to what his ideas are."
Klein, who served as an economist in the administration's of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, said that surprisingly, a number of leading Jewish groups want Netanyahu to back out.
"Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League has publicly said to Netanyahu he should unaccept and publicly said to John Boehner to disinvite him. This is the head of the Anti-Defamation League," Klein said.
"I'm sorry to say, most Jews, just as in the past, are frightened appeasement Jews. This is all appeasement not to want to upset those people in power. It is very sad."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.