By Michael Hill
Correspondent
A joint meeting of Congress gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a thunderous welcome.
And he thanked the U.S. for its undying support.
“I know that no matter on which side of the aisle you sit, you stand with Israel,” he said.
Netanyahu praised President Obama for having Israel’s back in ways that may never be revealed.
“And I will always be grateful to President Obama for that support,” he said.
The Israeli leader came to address Congress at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner — ignoring protocol.
“I deeply regret that some perceive my being here as political. That was never my intention,” he said.
But it was his intention to tell America and the Obama administration to press for tougher restrictions on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and capabilities.
“Iran has proven time and again, that it cannot be trusted,” Netanyahu said.
With Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel watching, Netanyahu told Congress the Iranian revolution of 1979 was founded on annihilating Israel and Iran is a global exporter of terrorism, an enemy of the U.S. even while it negotiates a nuclear deal and is as equally evil as the Islamic State.
“In this deadly game of thrones, there’s no place for America or for Israel, no peace for Christians, Jews or Muslims who don’t share the Islamist medieval creed. No rights for women. No freedom for anyone. So, when it comes to Iran and ISIS, the enemy of your enemy is your enemy,” said Netanyahu. “The greatest danger facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons. To defeat ISIS and let Iran get nuclear weapons would be to win the battle but lose the war. We can’t let that happen!”
The U.S. and its allies’ offer would allow Iran’s nuclear program to exist for medical and energy purposes in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.
But, Israel insists allowing any nuclear program in Iran at this time is a road map to the making of bombs to target Israel and well beyond.
“So this deal won’t change Iran for the better. It will only change the Middle East for the worse. A deal that’s supposed to prevent nuclear proliferation would instead spark a nuclear arms race in the most dangerous part of the planet. This deal won’t be a farewell to arms, it would be a farewell to arms control and the Middle East would soon be Cris-crossed with trip wires,” Netanyahu said.
“Frankly, I don’t think the prime minister’s speech made one bit of difference at all,” said Daniel Kurtzer.
Former ambassador to Israel and Egypt, Kurtzer says Netanyahu said nothing new and talks going back to the first Bush presidency have slowed Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The Princeton Mid-East studies professor adds talks are not a panacea.
“But, if we don’t talk to our enemy, and Iran is our enemy, then how are we going to know whether a deal is possible? And if a deal is not possible then the prime minister has left us with only two choices: one is sanctions which won’t work because we know the international community will not stay with us under those circumstances. The other alternative is military force which of course is an option but it should be the last option we consider,” Kurtzer said. “So I don’t see how it hurts to try to negotiate as good a deal as you can.”
Ambassador Kurtzer says the U.S.-Israeli relationship needs some repair after this speech.
Some members of Congress — staunch supporters of Israel — boycotted Netanyahu’s address. President Obama said the Israeli prime minister offered no viable alternative to negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran.