Netanyahu warns Obama, says he means no disrespect
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the United States Monday that the nuclear deal it is negotiating with Iran could threaten Israel’s survival and insisted he had a “moral obligation” to speak up about deep differences with President Barack Obama on the issue, Reuters reported.
Even as he set the stage for a Washington visit that has strained U.S.-Israeli relations, Netanyahu sought to lower the temperature ahead of his controversial address to Congress Tuesday, saying he meant no disrespect for Obama and appreciated U.S. support for Israel.
The Israeli prime minister left little doubt, however, about his objections to ongoing talks between Iran and world powers, which he said would allow Tehran to become a nuclear-armed state.
“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,” Netanyahu told a cheering audience at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the largest U.S. pro-Israel lobby.
Netanyahu said the relationship between his country and the United States was “stronger than ever” and not in crisis.