Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to members of the American Israel Pubic Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington DC on Monday, telling attendees that the deal is a threat to Israel's security.
"Iran is the foremost state sponsor of terrorism in the world," he said, as he warned against Iran "developing" a nuclear weapon.
"As prime minister, I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them."
Israel fears that US President Barack Obama's Iran diplomacy, with an end-of-March deadline for a framework accord, will allow Iran to develop atomic weapons, something the country denies seeking.
- Netanyahu made the speech, a day before he is to deliver a similar address before the Republican-controlled US Congress.
He has described his trip to the US as a "historic mission."
A senior Israeli official said on Netanyahu's flight that Congress could be "the last brake" for stopping a nuclear deal with Iran.
Also addressing the 16,000 AIPAC delegates are Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, and Susan Rice, national security adviser, who last week criticised Netanyahu's upcoming speech as "destructive" to the US-Israeli relations.
"The United States will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, period," Power said ahead of Netanyahu's speech. "There will never be a sunset on America's commitment to Israel's security."
'No offence intended'
In his speech, Netanyahu said that he has no intention to disrespect President Obama or the US presidency.................................http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/03/netanyahu-address-pro-israel-lobby-group-150302131010392.html
2/3/15
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Netanyahu: Speech not intended as a show of disrespect to Obama...
ReplyDeleteIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that his planned address to Congress scheduled for Tuesday is not meant to signal any disrespect for President Obama, nor to insert political partisanship into the U.S.-Israel relationship.
“Never has so much been written about a speech that hasn’t been given,” Netanyahu said. “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.”
Speaking at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Monday, Netanyahu said he intends to focus his remarks to Congress on the potential of an international nuclear deal with Iran that he believes could "threaten the survival of Israel."
Netanyahu said those who see a partisan motive in his address have misconstrued his purpose. He has frequently addressed AIPAC, but he has never before addressed Congress without the expressed blessing of the White House. Netanyahu was invited to speak by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who did not inform the White House of the invitation in advance.
“Israel has always been a bipartisan issue,” he said. “Israel should always remain a bipartisan issue.” Netanyahu said his purpose Tuesday is not to "inject Israel into the American partisan debate."..................http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/02/samantha-power-on-an-iran-nuclear-bomb-we-will-not-let-it-happen/?wprss=rss_homepage
2/3/15
According to a Kuwaiti newspaper, the Obama administration may have been willing to undertake drastic measures to prevent Israel from bombing Iranian nuclear facilities, even threatening to shoot down Israeli jets...
ReplyDeleteIn 2014, Israel discovered that the United States was undergoing secret talks with Iran and was close to signing a deal. Concerned that such a deal would threaten Israeli security, Netanyahu planned an airstrike against Iranian nuclear facilities.
All of this according to a report published on Sunday by Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida. The report cites “well-placed” sources within the Israeli government, and states that “Netanyahu and his commanders agreed after four nights of deliberations…to prepare a qualitative operation against Iran’s nuclear program.”.............http://sputniknews.com/us/20150302/1018966676.html#ixzz3TGLZfLIO
2/3/15
The White House said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the U.S. Congress scheduled for Tuesday is unlikely to complicate ongoing nuclear talks with Iran...
ReplyDelete"It shouldn't, and it's because the international community is united as we continue to pursue a diplomatic resolution to the international community's concerns with Iran's nuclear program," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing.
Reuters
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/124331.aspx
2/3/15