Washington: Seeking to downplay the controversy arising in the wake of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's impending address to the US Congress, President Barack Obama said that his speech on Iran was just a distraction and not “permanently destructive” to US Israeli ties.
It can be noted that earlier, Susan Rice, Obama's national security adviser, had termed Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's planned speech on Iran as "destructive" to US-Israel relations.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was invited by US House Speaker John Boehner to speak in front of a joint session of Congress , who did not consult the White House in advance.
In his address, Netanyahu is expected to try his best to convince the US that any deal with Iran would not guarantee that Tehran is not after nuke weapons and that could threaten Israel's existence.
The controversial invitation apparently angered the White House and the Democrats who were confronted with the dilemma of whether or not they should attend Netanyahu's address at the US Capitol on Tuesday.
Speaking in an interview to the Reuters, Obama however sought to tone down the differences saying that the speech was just a temporary distraction and would not mean permanent danger to their bilateral ties.
In the interview on Monday Obama however agreed that there was a “substantial disagreement” between his administration and the Israeli government over how to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Speaking over a possible nuclear deal with Iran, Obama added that if any landmark deal is to be reached, Tehran should agree to at least a decade-long freeze on its nuclear activity.
Israeli PM Netanyahu too, sought to downplay the talks about strained US-Israeli ties, when at the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) conference on Monday, he brushed aside the differences as mere “disagreements among family,” warning against blowing it out of proportion.
“You’re here to tell the world that reports of the demise of the Israeli-US relations is not only premature, they’re just wrong,” Netanyahu told the delegates at the AIPAC conference. “You’re here to tell the world that our alliance is stronger than ever.”
Netanyahu added that his speech was “not intended to show any disrespect to President Barack Obama or the esteemed office that he holds. I have great respect for both.”
Netanyahu however reiterated that Israel will not tolerate a nuclear Iran.
The purpose of his speech, he said was to speak about a deal with Iran that “could threaten the survival of Israel.”
“we are no longer silent; today we have a voice...Tomorrow, as prime minister of the one and only Jewish state, I plan to use that voice.”
Speaking about the controversy over his speech, Netanyahu said that “never has so much been written about a speech that hasn’t been given.”
To Congress, I will reiterate a simple truth: The world must never tolerate a nuclear Iran. RETWEET if I have your support! #netanyahuspeech
— בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 2, 2015
Iran is the foremost sponsor of international terrorism in the world. #AIPAC2015
— בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 2, 2015
