PM Netanyahu accepts invitation by Speaker Boehner to address joint session of Congress on the issue of Iranian nuclear threat, on Feb. 11.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will reportedly address a joint session of Congress on February 11 at the invitation of Speaker John A. Boehner, who has asked him to address American legislators on the issue of Iran. Boehner extended the invitation Wednesday less than 24 hours after President Barack Obama snubbed the Congress on the issue in his State of the Union address on national television.
 |
| MAY - 2011 |
“Prime Minister Netanyahu is a great friend of our country, and this invitation carries with it our unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of his people. In this time of challenge, I am asking the prime minister to address Congress on the grave threats radical Islam and Iran pose to our security and way of life,” Boehner wrote in a statement. “Americans and Israelis have always stood together in shared cause and common ideals, and now we must rise to the moment again. As many have pointed out, there’s no proof Obama’s actions have in fact halted Iran’s nuclear program. Indeed, the diplomacy has worried those who most fear the consequences of a nuclear breakout in Iran, including Netanyahu.”
The invitation was a strong gesture of support to the Jewish State. But it was also a direct slap at the president who repeated his threat to veto any proposed legislation toughening sanctions against Iran over its nuclear development activities. Obama wants lawmakers to allow him time to complete diplomatic negotiations with Tehran. Last week it was announced that Iran is building two new nuclear plants “for peaceful purposes” – similar to all the other “peaceful civilian” nuclear facilities now churning out uranium enriched to military weapons grade levels.
Iran’s atomic agency chief said a week ago that Iran is increasing its uranium enrichment capacity to 30 tons per year, according to theTasnim news agency, as quoted by China’s Xinhua news group. The increased production levels are intended to meet the “fuel needs of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.” But at the beginning of the current round of negotiations, didn’t the Iranians agree to “freeze” their program during the talks? It is no secret that Iran has used talks to buy time in the past – nor is it a secret to anyone who watches the “talk game” that they are doing it now as well.
Israel’s prime minister has warned world leaders repeatedly about the risk facing their nations, their people and his own because of the gamble taken by the White House. He also said there was a limit as to how far Israel would be willing to allow that gamble to endanger Israeli lives. Netanyahu has addressed the U.S. Congress twice before, in 2011 and prior to that in 1996. Each time he has addressed the threat of Iran’s steadily growing nuclear prowess and what it could mean for America and the world. Next month’s address will undoubtedly exacerbate the already strained ties that exist between Jerusalem and the White House. But time is running out for everyone. Netanyahu and the people of Israel face elections in March. Iran can do a lot of damage before then.
***************************************************
The White House says it's “reserving judgment” on PM Binyamin Netanyahu's visit to address a joint session of Congress on Iran Feb. 11.
By: Rachel Levy Published: January 21st, 2015 Latest update: January 22nd, 2015
A spokesperson for President Barack Obama is making sure Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu knows his boss is disgruntled. The White House says it is “reserving judgment” of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress about Iran on February 11, but that the event to which the prime minister has been asked to speak “is a departure from protocol.” The event is being held at the first branch of the American government, the legislative branch.
Netanyahu’s planned visit comes in response to a
direct invitation by Congressional Speaker John A. Boehner, who asked the prime minister to address lawmakers of both houses on the issue of the Iranian nuclear threat. Boehner extended the invitation Wednesday, Jan. 21, less than 24 hours after Obama snubbed the Congress on the issue in his State of the Union address, broadcast live Tuesday night local time on national television. White House spokesperson Josh Earnest told reporters in a briefing aboard Air Force One that it had not yet spoken with Israeli government officials. He said U.S. officials are reserving judgment on prime minister’s visit until they hear from their Israeli counterparts about Netanyahu’s plans.
“The protocol would suggest that the leader of one country would contact the leader of another country when he’s traveling there,” Earnest told reporters traveling with Obama. “This particular event seems to be a departure from that protocol,” he added dryly in a clear poke at Israel’s top leader and the Speaker. As has been the case for some time, there is obviously no deep friendship between the American president and the Israeli prime minister. Nor have Obama’s staff in recent months bothered to trouble themselves to hide their own personal distaste for most members of the Israeli administration.
But this latest sarcasm makes it plain the president is now granting new privileges to those who speak for him; or perhaps he is no longer chooses to restrain his own emotions in the interest of diplomacy or simple good taste. Sadly, this particular battle is not even with Netanyahu although Obama has decided to make it so: actually it’s between the president and his Congress, and Israel’s prime minister is just being caught in the crossfire.
In his address, Obama vowed to veto any measure that in any would infringe on negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear development activities. Israel’s voters, meanwhile, are facing a national election in March. Netanyahu will have to answer to his constituents at the ballot box himself and explain what, if anything, he has or has not done to eliminate the existential threat to Israel presented by Iran’s nuclear program.
Netanyahu has repeatedly warned the international community, and the United States, that Israel will never allow Iran to achieve its goal in creating an atomic weapon of mass destruction. No Israeli government official, and few – if any – intelligence officials in the world today actually believe Iran’s claims that it is continuing to increase and upgrade its uranium enrichment activities for “peaceful purposes only.”
Even if the Supreme Leader himself crosses his heart and solemnly says so.
*********************************************************************
Obama: I will not meet Netanyahu on his US visit
After the criticism for not coordinating Netanyahu’s invitation to speak at the congress with the administration – the White House clarifies that the president will not meet Netanyahu due to proximity to the elections in Israel.
Jan 22, 2015, 08:10PM | Yael Factor
Cold shoulder from Washington: The White House officially announced this evening (Thursday) that the American President, Barak Obama, will not meet PM Netanyahu in his US visit in a month and a half - to avoid appearance s of influencing the elections in Israel. “As a matter of long-standing practice and principle, we do not see heads of state or candidates in close proximity to their elections," said White House Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan. Earlier it was reported that Netanyahu’s scheduled speech before the congress, which will deal with the issue of the Iranian threat, was postponed at his request, and will take place only two weeks before the elections. “At his request, the Israeli PM will speak before the two houses of congress on March 3rd’” wrote the leader of the Republican majority, John Boehner in his Twitter account. “Netanyahu wanted to coordinate his speech with the pro-Israel AIPAC conference in Washington, D.C.” The meaning of it is that Netanyahu will speak in the USA just two weeks before the elections to the 20th Knesset.
The Prime Minister’s office, on the other hand said that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the invitation sent by Speaker John Boehner on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate, to address a joint meeting of Congress, and will also participate in the AIPAC Policy Conference”. Netanyahu’s statement says : “The address will provide an opportunity for the Prime Minister to thank President Obama, the US Congress and the American people for their support of Israel.”
The White House: "a departure from protocol" The Obama administration reacted with fury to the announcement regarding Netanyahu’s expected speech, after finding out about it from the media, and without having coordinating the speech with the administration. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that the invite was "a departure from protocol," adding that "such invitations are usually made leader to leader." Secretary of state John Kerry made clear that PM Netanyahu will be welcome in the US at any time, but admitted that it was a "little unusual" to hear about invitation from House speaker's officer and not by usual means of diplomatic protocol.
The Obama administration reacted with fury to the announcement regarding Netanyahu’s expected speech, after finding out about it from the media, and without having coordinating the speech with the administration. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that the invite was "a departure from protocol," adding that "such invitations are usually made leader to leader."
Secretary of state John Kerry made clear that PM Netanyahu will be welcome in the US at any time, but admitted that it was a "little unusual" to hear about invitation from House speaker's officer and not by usual means of diplomatic protocol.
MY P/S.- HURRAY FOR BOEHNER AND THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS!!!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment