WASHINGTON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington to deliver the speech to Congress that the Obama Administration did not want him to give.

An adviser to the Prime Minister said Netanyahu’s mission March 2 is to use the platform to speak of the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran. As the adviser put it: “We are not here to offend President Obama, whom we respect very much.”

Nevertheless, the event has exacerbated tensions between Israel and the U.S.

Netanyahu has come at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner, who did not tell the White House in advance that he would ask the prime minister to speak.

Netanyahu’s adviser was not authorized to be identified and spoke on condition of anonymity.

(ARON HELLER)