The president discussed the military campaign against the Islamic State, and the larger battle against violent extremism, during his State of the Union address.
WASHINGTON — The long-running debate over President Obama’s foreign policy centered Wednesday on a speech to Congress — not the one the president just delivered, but one that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will give in three weeks.
A day after the president’s State of the Union address, Speaker John A. Boehner invited Mr. Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress next month for what would effectively be a rebuttal. In the perennial argument over whether Mr. Obama’s approach to the world is wise or weak, Mr. Netanyahu essentially represents the “weak” case.
The invitation stunned the White House, which called it a breach of protocol, but the surprise move was a sign that Republicans, who now control both houses of Congress, intend to use their new majorities to challenge the president not only on domestic policy but also on international affairs. Congressional leaders plan to press their assertion that Mr. Obama does not take the danger posed by Islamic terrorists, Iran or Russia seriously enough.
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Indeed, the Ukrainian president, Petro O. Poroshenko, decided to leave early from the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday to rush home after saying more Russian troops had crossed the border.
Emmarie Huetteman contributed reporting.
A version of this news analysis appears in print on January 22, 2015, on page A16 of the New York edition with the headline: Boehner Invites Another Response to State of Union, From Israel’s Premier. Order Reprints| Today’s Paper|Subscribe
