Franken Skipping Netanyahu Speech

WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken says he will skip Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Tuesday.

Franken, who is Jewish, said the event has become a "partisan spectacle" in part because House Speaker John Boehner arranged it without first advising President Barack Obama. Franken said it's also inappropriate coming a few weeks before the Israeli elections. The former Saturday Night Live writer and actor said he'd feel uncomfortable being part of an event that, "I don't believe should be happening."

He added that after the speech, he expects Congress to reaffirm its traditional bipartisan support for Israel.

Most Democrats in the House and Senate are attending the speech, however unhappy they are about how it was arranged. A few dozen in the House and Senate have opted to skip.

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