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Netanyahu arrives in Washington to make case on Iran
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived yesterday in Washington as he prepares to outline the dangers of an emerging nuclear deal with Iran in an address to Congress.
Netanyahu accepted Republican Speaker John Boehner’s invitation to deliver the speech in a move which some consider a deliberate boost to President Obama’s political opponents. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Iranian counterparts last week as the two sides appeared to narrow gaps on an outline of a deal over Tehran’s nuclear development. Netanyahu has repeatedly termed the nascent agreement “dangerous.”
Prior to leaving for Washington, Netanyahu told the media he was embarking on a “critical mission, even an historic one.” He explained, “I feel I am the representative of all Israel, even those who disagree with me. I feel a deep concern for the fate of Israel. I will do everything to guarantee our future.” Netanyahu will today address the annual gathering of pro-Israel group AIPAC. Speaking to AIPAC yesterday, Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett echoed Netanyahu’s concerns, calling the emerging deal a “march of folly.” He said, “Instead of letting Iran have nuclear weapons, we can impose more sanctions and bring Iran to a place where it will have no choice but to give up its nuclear plans.”
Meanwhile, Kerry told ABC’s This Week that Washington deserves the “benefit of the doubt” to reach a nuclear accord, especially given the “success” of an interim agreement reached in November 2013. Kerry said, “It is better to do this by diplomacy than to have to do a strategy militarily.”
In Israel, a group of nearly 200 retired top military and intelligence officials criticised Netanyahu’s Congressional speech. Former Head of IDF Northern Command Amiran Levin commented, “Iran wants Netanyahu’s speech – since it understands that it will weaken Israel’s bipartisan bond with the US.” Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog accused Netanyahu of political motivation, telling Ynet “Netanyahu is destroying (our) American alliance for a few votes at the ballot box.”