President Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu clashed over Iran nuclear diplomacy on Monday on the eve of the Israeli prime minister’s hotly disputed address to Congress, underscoring the severity of U.S.-Israeli strains over the issue.
Even as the two leaders professed their commitment to a strong partnership and sought to play down the diplomatic row, they delivered dueling messages.
In an exclusive interview with Reuters, U.S. President Barack Obama tried to lay to rest any speculation that relations between Washington and Israel were strained.
U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:
“That bond is unbreakable and so we need to make clear from the outset how strong our alliance with Israel is. The seocnd point is that we actually share a goal, which is making sure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.”
“I think it’s important to realize the depth of the U.S.-Israeli relationship. Under my administration, billions of dollars have gone to suppportIsrael’s security, including the Iron Dome program that has protected them from missiles firing along their borders. The military and intelligence cooperation is unprecedented. That’s not our estimation. That’s the estimation of the Netanyahugovernment. And that bond is unbreakable. So we need to make clear how strong our alliance with Israel is.”
“The second point is that we actually share a goal, which is making sure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon. That is something I committed to as a senator.””
The President’s administration was furious after Republican congressional leaders failed to give the White House advance notice , per protocol , that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to address the U.S. Congress and argue against a U.S. deal with Iran over its nuclear program.
Netanyahu is set to give his speech to Congress on Tuesday.
Speaking to the U.S. Jewish lobby AIPAC, Netanyahu also sought to lower the temperature — saying he means no disrespect for Obama and appreciates the military diplomatic support for Israel from the U.S. But he left little doubt about his objections to the ongoing talks.
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU :
“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. ….. As prime minister of Israel, I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there’s still time to avert them.”
Obama also sought to lower the temperature by describing Netanyahu’s planned speech to Congress as a distraction that would not be “permanently destructive” to U.S.-Israeli ties and by saying the rift was not personal.
Obama refused to meet Netanyahu during the visit, on the grounds that doing so could be seen as interference on the cusp of Israel’s March 17 elections when the prime minister is seeking re-election against a tough center-left challenger. On Monday, the president said he would be willing to meet Netanyahu if the Israeli leader wins re-election.
But he said Netanyahu’s U.S. visit gave the impression of “politicizing” the two countries’ normally close partnership and of going outside the normal channels of U.S. foreign policy in which the president holds greatest sway. Netanyahu’s planned speech has driven a wedge between Israel and congressional Democrats. Forty two of them plan to boycott the address, according to The Hill, a political newspaper.
Reuters