Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declined an invitation to meet with two top Democratic senators, Radio Israel reported.
Senators Dianne Feinstein, of California, and Dick Durbin, of Illinois, invited Netanyahu for a closed-door meeting during his scheduled trip to Washington next week.
Netanyahu sent a letter to Durbin and Feinstein on Tuesday saying, "Though I greatly appreciate your kind invitation to meet with Democratic Senators, I believe that doing so at this time could compound the misperception of partisanship regarding my upcoming visit."
Durbin issued a statement about the refusal:
"We offered the Prime Minister an opportunity to balance the politically divisive invitation from Speaker Boehner with a private meeting with Democrats who are committed to keeping the bipartisan support of Israel strong. His refusal to meet is disappointing to those of us who have stood by Israel for decades."
On his trip to the U.S., Netanyahu will also speak before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
The speech will also coincide with the final stretch of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear program.