Tension Up As Netanyahu's Anti-Iran Speech In U.S. Congress Draws Near
Arlene Lim | | Feb 27, 2015 01:13 AM EST |
(Photo : Reuters) U.S. President Barack Obama (L) listens as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement to the media from the Colonnade outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington September 1, 2010.
Tension between the White House and Israel is mounting as the speech set to be made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday next week draws near.
The schedule for Netanyahu's address was finalized in the Capitol Hill without the knowledge of the Oval Office.
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Netanyahu is set to express his opposition to the nuclear deal that the United States is forming with Iran. Moving the negotiations forward is crucial to the Obama administration because Iran's nuclear program is President Barack Obama's signature foreign policy.
Netanyahu's address to the U.S. Congress surprised the White House. The invitation was made by the Republicans to the Israeli leader.
Netanyahu is a heavy critic of the Iran's nuclear program as he believes the talks the United States is conducting with the Islamic state is tantamount to allowing Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.
"They might accept this but I am not willing to accept this. I respect the White House," Netanyahu said in a statement delivered in Hebrew. "I respect the President of the United States, but in such a fateful matter that can determine if we exist or not, it is my duty to do everything to prevent this great danger to the state of Israel."
This week, U.S. and Iranian officials both reported that the accord is moving forward. The talks hope to clamp down on Iran's nuclear activities for at least 10 years, yet after that, restrictions will gradually ease.
What happens after a decade is what Netanyahu fears. It is also a fact that Obama and Netanyahu have no friendly personal relations.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry sees Netanyahu's view as a sweeping dismissal of a delicate issue. He says Israel also benefits from deals on nuclear programs.
Kerry recalls that in 2013, the U.S. also came up with an interim agreement with Iran which made Israel safer, because it resulted in the feezing of key aspects in Iran's nuclear program.
"Netanyahu may have a judgement that may not be correct here," Kerry says.
Iran also insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
However, the Israeli prime minister maintains that when it comes to curbing the proliferation of nuclear arms, the United States "appears to have given up on that commitment" and "are accepting that Iran will gradually, within a few yeas, develop capabilities to produce materials for many nuclear weapons.
Some democratice lawmakers plan to skip the session on Tuesday, but others still plan to attend because they do not want to be perceived as anti-Israel.
Obama's top officials are flying out of the country when Netanyahu visits the Capitol Hill.
TagsU.S., Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu speech, Iran nuclear talks
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