Susan Rice Remark on Netanyahu's Upcoming Speech Even Seems to Surprise Veteran Newsman

National Security Advisor Susan Rice sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming speech to Congress Tuesday, contending the act would be "destructive of the fabric of the relationship" between the U.S. and Israel.

"The relationship between Israel as a country, and the United States as a country, has always been bipartisan," Rice told Charlie Rose. "And we've been fortunate that politics have not injected into that relationship. What has happened over the last several weeks ... is that on both sides there has now been the injection of a degree of partisanship."

That's when the national security advisor made the comment that seemingly took Rose, a veteran newsman, off guard.

"[It's] not only unfortunate, I think it's destructive of the fabric of the relationship," Rice said.

[sharequote align="center"]"I think it's destructive of the fabric of the relationship."[/sharequote]

Rose interjected, repeating Rice's comments back to her.

"Charlie, take my point," she responded. "It's always been bipartisan. We need to keep it that way."

"When it becomes injected or infused with politics, that's a problem," she added.

Netanyahu is scheduled to address Congress on March 3. Neither President Barack Obama or Vice President Joe Biden will meet with him while he is in Washington, D.C.

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