WASHINGTON — President Obama will send Susan E. Rice, his national security adviser, and Samantha Power, his envoy to the United Nations, to speak to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee at its conference here next week, officials at the White House said on Thursday.
The move comes as relations between the United States and Israel have soured after the decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday to argue against a nuclear deal with Iran that is one of Mr. Obama’s highest priorities.
While in Washington, Mr. Netanyahu will also speak to Aipac, a strong supporter of his position on Iran. The administration — dismayed about the Israeli prime minister’s visit, which was arranged without informing the White House and will come just two weeks before Israel’s national elections — has said Mr. Obama will not meet with Mr. Netanyahu in order to avoid the appearance of influencing the campaign.
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Jodi Rudoren contributed reporting from Jerusalem.
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