Here’s what Washington is saying about Netanyahu’s visit

“We need a leader who understands that when the PM and leader of our longtime ally asks to come to Congress to share his concerns about Iran, we should show him and his country our respect,” said Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

With less than a week to go, Netanyahu’s visit is rapidly rising to the top of the political conversation amid a busy news week, as everyone from the White House down to those Republicans vying to be its next occupant made time to address how closely they stood with Israel.

“There’s not a single Democrat here,” noted Sen. Ted Cruz to the crowd at the National Harbor, Maryland confab Thursday. “It’s almost like CPAC invited Benjamin Netanyahu to speak!” — a thinly veiled swipe referred to the two dozen or so lawmakers who have said they will not attend the Netanyahu address.

Netanyahu, for his part, said at a campaign event Wednesday that the U.S. and fellow western powers have “given up” on keeping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

He also refused a request to meet with Senate Democrats in a closed-door session, saying it would “compound the misconception of partisanship.”

RELATED: 30 Democrats skipping Netanyahu’s speech

CNN