dateline washington: report from aipac

Bibi tells AIPAC: U.S.-Israel relationship is solid

On eve of Congress speech, Netanyahu thanks Obama

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Prime Minister Netanyahu touted a U.S.-Israel alliance that “is stronger than ever,” at Monday’s AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington.

One day ahead of his address to a joint session of Congress, Netanyahu said President Obama was a steadfast ally of Israel, and that disagreement over Iran — as crucial as it is — should not mask that fact. 

“My speech [to Congress] is not intended to show any disrespect to the President or the office that he holds. I have great respect for both,” Netanyahu told 16,000 AIPAC delegates.

“Reports of the demise of the U.S.-Israeli relationship are not only premature, they are wrong,” he said.

He said that both the U.S. and Israel were opposed to allowing Iran to reach the ability to quickly manufacture and deploy nuclear weapons, but that the issue was an existential one for the Israelis.

“American leaders worry about the security of their country, Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country,” he said.

A bad deal with Iran “can threaten the survival of Israel,” the Prime Minister said. “Iran vows to eradicate the state of Israel. We must not let that happen.”

Netanyahu brought “greetings from Jerusalem, our eternal undivided capital,” and described how “in a dark and savage Middle East, Israel is a beacon of light and hope.”