[caption id="attachment_147125" align="alignright" width="180"] The White House has said it wants to avoid the appearance of influencing the Israeli elections, set to take place two weeks after Binyamin Netanyuahu’s visit. Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images[/caption]

The aim of the prime minister's controversial trip to Washington is to ensure that next time in town, he’ll be a White House guest, not a private citizen.

This could be Benjamin Netanyahu's last official visit abroad as prime minister. For the many who are scandalized by the way Israel's leader is making a speech today in Washington, against the express wishes of the Obama administration and just two weeks before the elections, this is a comforting thought. No more Sara and Bibi abroad with their massive entourage.

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