Rift deepens as U.S. officials question Netanyahu's judgment

Hostile exchanges between U.S. and Israeli officials have escalated six days before the Israeli prime minister gives a speech to Congress on the threat from Iran.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is accusing world powers of abandoning their pledge to prevent Tehran from getting a nuclear bomb.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest, echoing comments by Obama's national security adviser Susan Rice, on Wednesday warned against allowing the U.S.-Israeli relationship to be reduced to a party political issue.

"The president has said the relationship between the U.S. and Israel can’t just be reduced to a relationship between the Republican party and the Likud party," he said, referring to Netanyahu's party.

Republicans didn't consult President Obama or Democrats in Congress, as is customary, before extending the speaking invitation to Netanyahu, and Obama says he won't meet Netanyahu because it will be so close to March 17 Israeli elections.