Obama aide calls Netanyahu visit 'destructive' to relations

President Barack Obama's national security adviser is calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to address Congress next week ``destructive'' to U.S.-Israel relations.

Susan Rice told PBS Tuesday that Netanyahu's decision to accept House Speaker John Boehner's invitation has injected partisanship into bilateral relations. She called that ``destructive of the fabric of the relationship.''

Rice said the relationship has always been bipartisan, and needs to stay that way.

Netanyahu is scheduled to give a speech to a joint session of Congress next week on Iran.

In inviting Netanyahu, Republican leaders didn't consult beforehand with the Obama administration, which the White House has called a breach of protocol.

Netanyahu Tuesday turned down an invitation to meet privately with Senate Democrats, saying it ``could compound the misperception of partisanship'' surrounding his trip. (AP)