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Netanyahu, Amid Tensions, Prepares to Deliver Speech to Congress on Iran Netanyahu, Amid Tensions, Prepares to Deliver Speech to Congress on Iran
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel arrived at Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to issue a high-profile warning against what he considers an ill-advised nuclear deal with Iran, culminating a drama that has roiled Israeli-American relations for weeks.WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel arrived at Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to issue a high-profile warning against what he considers an ill-advised nuclear deal with Iran, culminating a drama that has roiled Israeli-American relations for weeks.
In an implicit challenge to President Obama, Mr. Netanyahu plans to address a joint meeting of Congress to outline his case for a tougher strategy to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to dissect the flaws of an agreement that has been emerging from American-led negotiations.In an implicit challenge to President Obama, Mr. Netanyahu plans to address a joint meeting of Congress to outline his case for a tougher strategy to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to dissect the flaws of an agreement that has been emerging from American-led negotiations.
Mr. Netanyahu’s address, by far the most anticipated speech to Congress by a foreign leader in many years, has generated resentment and reinforcement from different quarters while driving a partisan wedge between Democrats and Republicans. Even Mr. Netanyahu on Monday seemed surprised by all the attention. “Never has so much been written about a speech that hasn’t been given,” he told a conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac.Mr. Netanyahu’s address, by far the most anticipated speech to Congress by a foreign leader in many years, has generated resentment and reinforcement from different quarters while driving a partisan wedge between Democrats and Republicans. Even Mr. Netanyahu on Monday seemed surprised by all the attention. “Never has so much been written about a speech that hasn’t been given,” he told a conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or Aipac.
For Mr. Netanyahu, the stakes could hardly be higher. Coming just two weeks before Israeli elections, the speech offers an opportunity to build support at home for another term while rallying opposition abroad to a diplomatic accord that he sees as a threat to his country’s security. For Mr. Netanyahu, the stakes could hardly be higher. Coming just two weeks before Israeli elections, the speech offered an opportunity to build support at home for another term while rallying opposition abroad to a diplomatic accord that he sees as a threat to his country’s security.
It will be, said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, “the most important speech of his political life.” Before the address, Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, predicted it would be “the most important speech of his political life.”
For Mr. Obama, however, it is an extra complication as he seeks to draw Iran into a pact by late March, a complication he worries may embolden lawmakers into intervening. For Mr. Obama, however, it was an extra complication as he seeks to draw Iran into a pact by late March, a complication he worries may embolden lawmakers into intervening.
“I’m less concerned, frankly, with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s commentary than I am with Congress taking actions that might undermine the talks before they’re complete,” he told Reuters on Monday.“I’m less concerned, frankly, with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s commentary than I am with Congress taking actions that might undermine the talks before they’re complete,” he told Reuters on Monday.
In a bit of counterprogramming, the White House announced on Tuesday morning that at 11:30 a.m., around the time when Mr. Netanyahu may be wrapping up his speech, Mr. Obama will hold a conference call with European leaders.In a bit of counterprogramming, the White House announced on Tuesday morning that at 11:30 a.m., around the time when Mr. Netanyahu may be wrapping up his speech, Mr. Obama will hold a conference call with European leaders.
At the heart of the dispute between Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu is a debate over the best way to curb Iran’s nuclear program. The United States, along with European allies, Russia and China, has been negotiating a potential deal in which Iran for at least 10 years would restrict the number of centrifuges it has for enriching uranium and open its program to international inspection.At the heart of the dispute between Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu is a debate over the best way to curb Iran’s nuclear program. The United States, along with European allies, Russia and China, has been negotiating a potential deal in which Iran for at least 10 years would restrict the number of centrifuges it has for enriching uranium and open its program to international inspection.
The goal would be to limit Iran’s capacity so that it would take at least a year to build a nuclear weapon should it choose to violate or break the agreement. In theory, that would give the West enough time to respond. In exchange, international sanctions that have hampered Iran’s economy would be eased.The goal would be to limit Iran’s capacity so that it would take at least a year to build a nuclear weapon should it choose to violate or break the agreement. In theory, that would give the West enough time to respond. In exchange, international sanctions that have hampered Iran’s economy would be eased.
Mr. Netanyahu argues that Iran cannot be trusted given its history of cheating and hostile statements about Israel. The deal contemplated by the American-led negotiations would give away far too much, he contends. Instead, Mr. Netanyahu and other critics have advocated tightening sanctions and demanding that Iran give up all uranium enrichment.Mr. Netanyahu argues that Iran cannot be trusted given its history of cheating and hostile statements about Israel. The deal contemplated by the American-led negotiations would give away far too much, he contends. Instead, Mr. Netanyahu and other critics have advocated tightening sanctions and demanding that Iran give up all uranium enrichment.
“I plan to speak about an Iranian regime that is threatening to destroy Israel, that’s devouring country after country in the Middle East, that’s exporting terror throughout the world and that is developing, as we speak, the capacity to make nuclear weapons — lots of them,” Mr. Netanyahu told the Aipac conference on Monday. “Ladies and gentlemen, Israel and the United States agree that Iran should not have nuclear weapons, but we disagree on the best way to prevent Iran from developing those weapons.” The speech came even as Secretary of State John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, continued their talks in Switzerland. In comments published on Wednesday in the Iranian media, Mr. Zarif bluntly rejected the conditions Mr. Obama outlined.
Mr. Obama and his team said they shared the concerns but considered Mr. Netanyahu’s approach unrealistic. “Iran will not accept excessive and illogical demands,” Mr. Zarif was quoted as saying. “It is clear that Obama’s comments are meant to win the U.S. public opinion and counter the propaganda campaign by the Israeli prime minister.”
But in separate if sparse public comments in Montreux, Switzerland, Mr. Zarif was more conciliatory. “We’re trying, we’re trying,” he responded to a shouted question about how the negotiations were going.
Mr. Obama and his team said they shared Mr. Netanyahu’s concerns, but considered his approach unrealistic.
Simply insisting that Iran forgo enrichment altogether “is not a viable negotiating position,” Susan E. Rice, the president’s national security adviser, told the Aipac conference on Monday evening. And military strikes often favored by hawks would only temporarily set back Iran’s program, she said.Simply insisting that Iran forgo enrichment altogether “is not a viable negotiating position,” Susan E. Rice, the president’s national security adviser, told the Aipac conference on Monday evening. And military strikes often favored by hawks would only temporarily set back Iran’s program, she said.
“We cannot let a totally unachievable ideal stand in the way of a good deal,” she said.“We cannot let a totally unachievable ideal stand in the way of a good deal,” she said.
Ms. Rice vowed to hold out for a truly verifiable pact. “Our approach is distrust and verify,” she said, in a twist on a phrase made famous by President Ronald Reagan during negotiations with the Soviet Union. And she reassured Israel of Mr. Obama’s support. “We have Israel’s back, come hell or high water,” she said.Ms. Rice vowed to hold out for a truly verifiable pact. “Our approach is distrust and verify,” she said, in a twist on a phrase made famous by President Ronald Reagan during negotiations with the Soviet Union. And she reassured Israel of Mr. Obama’s support. “We have Israel’s back, come hell or high water,” she said.
Mr. Netanyahu’s speech divided American lawmakers. Speaker John A. Boehner invited the Israeli leader without consulting the White House, seeing Mr. Netanyahu as a forceful voice challenging Mr. Obama’s foreign policy.Mr. Netanyahu’s speech divided American lawmakers. Speaker John A. Boehner invited the Israeli leader without consulting the White House, seeing Mr. Netanyahu as a forceful voice challenging Mr. Obama’s foreign policy.
“This is an important message at an important time, and the prime minister is the perfect person to deliver it,” Mr. Boehner said in a video previewing the event released on Tuesday morning.“This is an important message at an important time, and the prime minister is the perfect person to deliver it,” Mr. Boehner said in a video previewing the event released on Tuesday morning.
Democrats bristled at what they saw as a partisan maneuver, and at least 55 House and Senate Democrats planned to skip the address, according to the newspaper The Hill.Democrats bristled at what they saw as a partisan maneuver, and at least 55 House and Senate Democrats planned to skip the address, according to the newspaper The Hill.
Few congressional appearances by foreign leaders have generated such controversy. Mr. Netanyahu has addressed Congress twice before, in 1996 and 2011, without such a ruckus, and his speech on Tuesday will be the eighth time an Israeli leader has spoken to the House and Senate together.Few congressional appearances by foreign leaders have generated such controversy. Mr. Netanyahu has addressed Congress twice before, in 1996 and 2011, without such a ruckus, and his speech on Tuesday will be the eighth time an Israeli leader has spoken to the House and Senate together.
The only other foreign leader to have spoken to Congress three times was Winston Churchill, the British prime minister during and after World War II. In honor of that, Mr. Boehner plans to present Mr. Netanyahu with a bust of Churchill.The only other foreign leader to have spoken to Congress three times was Winston Churchill, the British prime minister during and after World War II. In honor of that, Mr. Boehner plans to present Mr. Netanyahu with a bust of Churchill.
The flap has raised Mr. Netanyahu’s profile in the United States, but he remains a polarizing figure. Early last month, Gallup, the survey firm, found that 45 percent of Americans have a positive view of him, a 10-point jump since a similar poll in 2012, compared with 24 percent who view him unfavorably. But the views broke down sharply along party lines, with Republicans favoring Mr. Netanyahu three to one and Democrats evenly split.The flap has raised Mr. Netanyahu’s profile in the United States, but he remains a polarizing figure. Early last month, Gallup, the survey firm, found that 45 percent of Americans have a positive view of him, a 10-point jump since a similar poll in 2012, compared with 24 percent who view him unfavorably. But the views broke down sharply along party lines, with Republicans favoring Mr. Netanyahu three to one and Democrats evenly split.
In a separate poll by The Wall Street Journal and NBC News late last month, 48 percent of voters disapproved of inviting Mr. Netanyahu to address Congress without checking with the White House first, compared with 30 percent who approved.In a separate poll by The Wall Street Journal and NBC News late last month, 48 percent of voters disapproved of inviting Mr. Netanyahu to address Congress without checking with the White House first, compared with 30 percent who approved.
The speech became a hot ticket. Mr. Boehner’s office reported that demand for seats in the galley were the highest since he became speaker in 2011. Interest was so overwhelming that both the House and Senate set up alternative viewing locations. Among the guests invited by Mr. Boehner was Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.The speech became a hot ticket. Mr. Boehner’s office reported that demand for seats in the galley were the highest since he became speaker in 2011. Interest was so overwhelming that both the House and Senate set up alternative viewing locations. Among the guests invited by Mr. Boehner was Elie Wiesel, the Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
One person not clamoring to see the address, either in person or on television, will be Mr. Obama. Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said, “I doubt that he will spend his whole time watching the speech.” One person not clamoring to see the address, either in person or on television, will be Mr. Obama. Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said on Monday, “I doubt that he will spend his whole time watching the speech.”