Washington – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Monday that despite recent differences with the Obama administration over a looming nuclear deal with Iran the alliance between his country and the Unites States was “stronger than ever.”
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Kicking off a charged visit to Washington that has sparked criticism both in the U.S. and Israel, Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that “reports of the demise of the Israeli-U.S. relationship are not just premature, they are just wrong.”
The centerpiece of his trip is an address to Congress Tuesday, which came at the invitation of congressional Republicans and was not coordinated with the White House. As a result, Netanyahu’s already tense relationship with President Barack Obama reached a new low and included some of the harshest attacks against him to date.
The Israeli leader is deeply suspicious of Obama’s efforts to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran, fearing the U.S. and its negotiating partners are prepared to leave Tehran on the cusp of developing a nuclear weapon. Netanyahu stressed he would speak clearly before Congress about the threat a nuclear Iran would pose to Israel and the world.
“First, let me clarify what is not the purpose of that speech. My speech is not intended to show any disrespect to President Obama or the esteemed office that he holds. I have great respect for both,” he said, receiving a standing ovation from more than 15.000 pro-Israel supporters.
Noting Israel’s proximity to Iran, Netanyahu said his country’s situation was more dire than that of the United States.
“American leaders worry about the security of their country,” he said. “Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country.”
Showing a graphic he said depicted Iran’s training, arming and dispatching of terrorists on five continents, Netanyahu said their “tentacles of terror” reached across the world.
“This is what Iran is doing now — without nuclear weapons. Imagine what Iran would do with nuclear weapons. And this same Iran vows to annihilate Israel. If it develops nuclear weapons, it would have the means to achieve that goal,” he said. “And as prime minister of Israel, I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them.”
As an American, seeing him in our Congress sneaking behind my leader, I feel the bile coming up and the need to vomit is imminent.
The only “thing” that will be achieved here, as unprecedented attention for the chronic attention seeker named Bibi Netanyahu.
Disgusted.
AIPAC is the place where Netanyahu can say whatever he wants. He is an invited guest he has all the right to speak.
In America he is an uninvited guest he has no right to speak. Yes,he was invited by the Republicans in the house but it is against the wishes of president Obama and the state department.
As Americans we are obligated to respect the oval office and the president.Jews especial have an obligation to respect the country they live in and its leaders.
Therefore since Netanyahu claims he came to our country the US to speak as an emissary of all Jews we must declare that its a total lie.There are thousands and thousands of Jews for whom Netanyahu does not speak. There are thousands of Jews who say: Netanyahu,go back and don’t incite antisemitism with your Chutzpah
As an American, seeing our President acting like a 2 year old and a bully for refusing to meet an invited world leader, I feel the bile coming up and the need to vomit is imminent.
The only “thing” that will be achieved here, is unprecedented backlash for the president and the attention seekers in the Democratic party
Strong enough to free Pollard? Let’s see, his incarceration is beyond cruel
As a Canadian I observe the worst president the US has had in a very long time. Given his own devices he would throw Israel under the bus, now that he can no longer run.
His bowing a kowtowing to America’s enemies in the vain hope of making them friends may be idealistic, but in factually is nothing short of lunacy.
Mr. Natanyahu was invited by to speak legitimately. If America is to have free speech can it not endure his opinion?
Everything would be fine if it would not coincide with the upcoming election of Bibi and contrary opinions by Israeli military officers
Iran ALREADY has the bomb and it will bomb its enemy Sunni Saudi Arabia, Bibi the boy who cried wolf.