The chairwoman of the Hawaii Republican Party is not happy that one of our U.S. senators is boycotting Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned address to a joint session of Congress next month.

“It is most disappointing to learn that Senator (Brian) Schatz puts partisan concerns over national security interests,” Pat Saiki said in a statement Wednesday. “His boycotting of an invitation by the U.S. Congress to Israeli Prime Minister Netenyahu to speak to our nation is shortsighted and small minded.”

Hawaii Republican Party Chair Pat Saiki.

Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat

Saiki, a former congresswoman, added, “His loyalty to President Obama apparently supersedes his duties as a representative of his constituents. What is the problem with learning of the concerns of Israel regarding their situation in the Middle East and the threats they face?”

Israel has been “a constant and diligent ally of the United States and deserves to be heard,” she concluded.

Schatz, a Democrat, announced Tuesday that he would not attend the speech, which came at the invitation of GOP House Speaker John Boehner but without the knowledge of the White House.

Schatz said the speech “does more harm than good to the bipartisan U.S.-Israel alliance.”