John Kerry downplays U.S.-Israel tensions ahead of Netanyahu's speech to Congress

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday downplayed tension caused by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming speech to Congress, The Washington Post reports.

"The prime minister is welcome in the United States at any time,” Kerry said on ABC'sThis Week. "We have an unparalleled close security relationship with Israel, and we will continue to. We don't want to see this turned into some great political football."

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) invited Netanyahu to address Congress without consulting the Obama administration, a perceived slight, especially considering Netanyahu plans to talk about his concerns over the U.S. role in ongoing Iranian nuclear talks. Kerry did admit that the situation was "odd, if not unique,” but added that "the administration is not seeking to politicize this.”

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