WASHINGTON – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the largest pro-Israel lobbying group in the U.S. Monday that his country’s alliance with America is “stronger than ever,” even as he defended his “moral obligation” to speak out in the face of threats to Israel’s survival.
“The last thing I would want is for Israel to become a partisan issue,” Netanyahu told some 16,000 supporters at the pro-Israel conference in Washington. “And I regret that some have misperceived my visit here this week as doing that. Israel has always been a bipartisan issue and should always remain a bipartisan issue.”
In the nearly 30-minute speech before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Netanyahu sought to sooth tensions over his widely-anticipated speech before Congress Tuesday on Iran, as well as alleviate concerns at home before his March 17 reelection that he’s harmed relations with Israel’s most important ally.
He was greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.
“Reports of the demise of the Israeli-US relations is not only premature, they’re just wrong,” the israeli leader declared at the outset.
“… Our alliance is stronger than ever. My speech is not intended to show any disrespect to President Obama or the esteemed office he holds. I have great respect for both. I deeply appreciate all that President Obama has done for Israel.”
It was Netanyahu’s first public appearance since arriving in Washington Sunday night amid a firestorm of controversy.
At least 34 Democrats have announced they will not attend Netanyahu’s speech before the joint session of Congress to criticize the US-led effort to reach a deal with Iran to curb its nuclear weapons program.
GOP House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu without informing President Obama, who said he wouldn’t attend because the speech might interfere with Israeli elections in two weeks.
The US wants Congress and the international community to hold off on further sanctions on Iran until talks are concluded.
Netanyahu has warned repeatedly that Iran can’t be trusted.
He framed his speech before Congress as a “moral obligation” to face the threat from Iran, a nation that “envelops the entire world with its tentacles of terror.”
“For 2,000 years, my people, the Jewish people were stateless, defenseless, voiceless. Were utterly powerless against our enemies who swore to destroy us. … No more,” he said to cheers. “The days when the Jewish people are passive in the face of threats to annihilate us – those days are over.”
A top White House advisor had earlier called Netanyahu’s visit “destructive” to US-Israeli relations.
But on Monday, UN Ambassador Samantha Power softened the rhetoric when she spoke before AIPAC.
She acknowledged the tensions between the two countries, but reassured the crowd that friendship with Israel is not a partisan matter but a “national commitment” that will survive “through thick and thin.”
The remarks from both the Power and Netanyahu signaled both sides were tone down hostilities.
Netanyahu brought up historical disagreements between the US and Israel starting with Israel’s inception as a state.
“American leaders worry about the security of their country. Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country,” he said.
Like a “family,” however, the US and Israel have survived the disagreements because of their shared interests and have grown stronger.
“Our friendship will weather the current disagreement as well,” Netanyahu predicted.
“America and Israel are more than friends. We’re like a family. We’re practically mishpacha,” Netanyahu said, using the Yiddish word for family. “Disagreements in the family are always uncomfortable. But we must always remember that we are family.”