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Jewish Democrats in Congress are lining up to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus address to Congress next month.

More than half of the 27 Jewish Democrats in the House and Senatesurveyedby The Hill saytheyll attend the speech.

Only two Jewish lawmakers, so far, say theyll skip it: Sens. Brian Schatz

(D-Hawaii) and Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont who caucuses with the Democrats.

Several Jewish members have expressed reservations about Netanyahus March 3 address, arguing it was inappropriate for the visit to be organized by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) without input from the White House.

Im deeply troubled that politics has been injected into this enduring relationship that has always been above politics, but I plan to go, said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

The Israeli government has been courting Jewish Democrats in an attempt to defuse the fallout. Six prominent Jewish House Democratsmetwith Israeli Ambassador RonDermer last week to complain about the way the invitation to speak was handled.

That meeting in Rep. Steve Israels (D-N.Y.) office was attended by fellow Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), Sandy Levin (Mich.), Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), Ted Deutch (Fla.) and Nita Lowey (N.Y.).

Schatz and Sanders argue Netanyahus visit two weeks before the March 17 Israeli elections will be too politicized to merit their appearances.

I am disappointed in the Republican leaderships invitation of Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress with the apparent purpose of undermining President Obamas foreign policy prerogatives, Schatz said in a statement to The Hill on Tuesday. I will not be attending Prime Minister Netanyahus speech because it does more harm than good to the bipartisan U.S.-Israel alliance.

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Netanyahu speech has Jewish Democrats lining up