Israel’s ambassador to the United States has unsuccessfully lobbied the envoys of at least two Arab countries to attend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress.

Amb. Ron Dermer sent emails to the ambassadors of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates encouraging them to come to the speech due to “a common interest” in thwarting a nuclear deal with Iran, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic reported on Wednesday.

The Sunni-majority countries, and other Arab Gulf states, view the Shiite-led Iran as an enemy, but would not allow themselves to be used as props in Netanyahu’s address, Goldberg reported.

The news comes less than a day after Netanyahu wrote to decline an invitation from Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the second ranked Democrat in the Senate, and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) the top ranked Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, to meet privately with the chamber’s Democratic caucus in part to clear away bad feelings about his March 3 speech to Congress.

“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,” Netanyahu wrote.

Also on Tuesday U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice called the upcoming speech “destructive” to the U.S. -Israel relationship.

Here is why I'm matching up to $36,000 in gifts to the Forward:

Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.

I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.

The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.

That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.

Don't just read the Forward - invest in it. Will you help support the Forward's work today?

— Joel Brown, Forward board chair

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$120 $180 $360 OTHER AMOUNT