Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The Israeli premier's remarks are the culmination of a controversy that began in January when he was invited — without input from the White House — to make the speech.

Secretary of State John Kerry questioned the Israeli leader's "judgment" on talks with Iran. Earlier, National Security Adviser Susan Rice said Netanyahu's address to Congress was hurting relations.

The Israeli leader will meet with Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., after his March 3 speech. Also, two senior Obama administration officials will address the AIPAC conference.

The secretary of state said the Israeli prime minister is welcome to speak in the U.S. and that the White House does not want to see his address to Congress become "a political football."

Topics such as garden furniture are now in Israel's political sphere, after a review alleged that the Israeli prime minister's household spending has been excessive.

President Obama says it would break protocol to meet with Israel's prime minister just two weeks before Israeli elections. The two leaders have developed a prickly relationship over the years.