Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a conciliatory tone toward the Obama administration on Monday as he told a pro-Israeli conference in Washington that his upcoming address to a joint meeting of Congress should not become a partisan football.
“America and Israel are more than friends. We’re like a family. … And we must always remember that we are family,” Netanyahu told the audience of 16,000 at the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, receiving one of many standing ovations.
Netanyahu sought to calm the controversy over his address Tuesday, which some Democrats plan to boycott because they see it as an inappropriate effort by a foreign leader to lobby Congress on Iran. Administration officials also are staying away — Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry are out of town, and the White House has said Obama will not meet Netanyahu while he is in Washington.
“My speech is not intended to show any disrespect to President Obama or the state office that he holds. I have great respect for both,” Netanyahu said. “The last thing I would want is for Israel to become a partisan issue. Israel has always been a bipartisan issue. Israel should always be made a bipartisan issue.”
But even as he dismissed the controversy over Tuesday’s speech, Netanyahu reminded his audience that it will outline the sharp disagreements between his government and the Obama administration over how to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions — disagreements shared by many in Congress.
Members of the pro-Israeli group will be on Capitol Hill on Tuesday as well, reinforcing the prime minister’s message in lobbying visits to lawmakers. The group is seeking congressional passage of tougher sanctions on Iran and legislation that would require Congress to approve any deal signed by the administration.
“American leaders worry about the security of their country. Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country,” Netanyahu said. “I think that encapsulates the difference.”
Before Netanyahu spoke, U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power defended the administration to the lobby group, saying it remained firmly committed to Israel’s security in spite of the disagreement over Iran.
“We believe firmly that Israel’s security and the U.S.-Israel relationship transcends politics and it always will,” she said, to a standing ovation from the audience.
“This partnership should never be politicized and it cannot and will not be tarnished or broken.”
