Sixty-three percent of respondents said it was a bad move for Republican congressional leaders to invite Netanyahu to speak to Congress without consulting President Barack Obama, according to the CNN/ORC poll released Tuesday.

Only 33 percent backed the invitation from Republican House Speaker John Boehner.

The Israeli leader is set to use his address to Congress on March 3 to persuade American lawmakers to put further sanctions against Iran while nuclear negotiations are under way.

Netanyahu, who is against the nuclear talks, has defended his speech to a joint session of Congress.

“I intend to speak in the US Congress because Congress might have an important role on a nuclear deal with Iran,” Netanyahu said last week.

Meanwhile, US Vice President Joe Biden and a number of Democrats announced that they would skip one of the most controversial speeches to Congress by a foreign leader ever.

Democrats believe that Boehner should have consulted with President Obama before inviting the Israeli prime minister at this critical time.

The US president also said he would not meet with Netanyahu during his visit.