I/II. http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/02/25/399118/Obama-aide-blasts-Netanyahu-for-US-trip
Rice: Netanyahu's Congress address destructive to US-Israeli relations HomeUSForeign Policy Wed Feb 25, 2015 9:50AM Susan Rice speaks at the Brookings Institution on Feb. 6, 2015, in Washington. Susan Rice speaks at the Brookings Institution on Feb. 6, 2015, in Washington. A top American official has blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for deciding to address Congress, saying the planned visit is destructive to relations between the US and Israel. President Barack Obama's National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the decision has "injected a degree of partisanship, which is not only unfortunate, I think it's destructive of the fabric of the relationship." She criticized the Israeli leader in an interview with PBS television on Tuesday. Netanyahu will address a joint meeting of Congress next week in order to put pressure on US officials to stop a comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany. On Tuesday, Netanyahu once again defended his trip to Washington, saying he would do everything to prevent a nuclear deal with Iran. "It is my obligation as prime minister to do everything that I can to prevent this agreement. Therefore, I will go to Washington... because the American Congress is likely to be the final brake before the agreement," he said. In a strong public rebuke on Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry criticized those officials who are speaking against a potential nuclear agreement. "Anybody running around right now, jumping in to say well we don't like the deal, or this or that, doesn't know what the deal is," Kerry said. Senator: Netanyahu's private meeting refusal 'disappointing' Democratic Senator Richard Durbin said he is disappointed by Netanyahu after he refused to meet with a number of Democrats in a private session. Two high-ranking Senate Democrats invited Netanyahu for a separate closed-door meeting, but he turned down the request. "We offered the prime minister an opportunity to balance the politically divisive invitation from Speaker [John] Boehner with a private meeting with Democrats who are committed to keeping the bipartisan support of Israel strong," Durbin said in a statement Tuesday. "His refusal to meet is disappointing to those of us who have stood by Israel for decades," he added. President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and John Kerry would not meet with the Israeli leader during his next month's trip. A number of Democrats announced that they would skip the controversial speech. Democratic Representatives James Clyburn of South Carolina, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, John Lewis of Georgia, G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, and Steve Cohen of Tennessee are among them. AGB/AGB II. http://www.bbc.com/news/31626875 26 February 2015 Last updated at 04:57 Netanyahu row with Obama administration deepens US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 5, 2012 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, has accepted an invitation to address Congress next week A row between the US and Benjamin Netanyahu has deepened, with the Israeli leader accusing America and others of "giving up" on trying to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. The US secretary of state questioned Mr Netanyahu's judgement on the issue. Republican leaders have invited Mr Netanyahu to address the US Congress next week, angering Democrats. A White House spokesman warned against reducing US-Israeli ties to a party political issue. Earlier, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said Mr Netanyahu's visit was "destructive to the fabric of the relationship". US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, listens to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, as they walk in the city of Geneva, Switzerland 14 January 2015 Mr John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart have been negotiating Iran's nuclear future 'May not be correct' In response Mr Netanyahu said the US and others were "accepting that Iran will gradually, within a few years, develop capabilities to produce material for many nuclear weapons". "I respect the White House and the president of the United States but on such a fateful matter, that can determine whether or not we survive, I must do everything to prevent such a great danger for Israel," he said in a speech in Israel. Late on Wednesday US Secretary of State John Kerry rebuffed Mr Netanyahu, saying: "He may have a judgment that just may not be correct here." He said it was premature to criticise nuclear the negotiations with Tehran. "The president has made clear - I can't state this more firmly - the policy is Iran will not get a nuclear weapon," Mr Kerry told senators. He was speaking after returning from the latest round of nuclear talks involving Iran in Geneva. line Analysis - Barbara Plett Usher, BBC News, Washington Administration officials have been hitting back at Mr Netanyahu's aggressive opposition to the nuclear deal they're negotiating with Iran - they're unhappy his speech to Congress will give him a platform to make his case as talks reach a critical juncture. Susan Rice's comments highlight that strain and are the most direct reference by a senior official to the damage caused by the controversy over the visit. It was arranged by Republican congressional leaders without consulting the Democrats or the White House, just two weeks before Mr Netanyahu faces an election. That has angered Democrats, some of whom feel they'll be forced to choose between President Obama and their desire not to upset Israel. More than a dozen have said they plan to skip the speech, opening an unprecedented breach in the usual show of bipartisan support for Israel. line Mr Netanyahu was invited by House Speaker John Boehner in what is seen as a rebuke to US President Barack Obama's Iran policy. Mr Netanyahu is expected to discuss Iran, as well as Islamist militant groups, in his address. The current tensions took root over a decade ago when Iran's nuclear programme first came to light. In 2005, Iran was referred to the UN Security Council, leading to a series of sanctions and UN resolutions requiring Tehran to stop enriching uranium. The US and other powers - the so-called P5+1 - are negotiating with Iran on its nuclear programme. They want to agree a deal by March this year, but Mr Netanyahu is opposed to any agreement which might allow Tehran to retain the future capacity to build a nuclear weapon. 'Breach of protocol' The Israeli leader has turned down an invitation to meet Senate Democrats privately, saying this "could compound the misperception of partisanship" surrounding his trip. Several Democratic members of Congress including Vice-President Joe Biden have said they will not attend the speech. Republican leaders did not consult the Obama administration before inviting Mr Netanyahu, which the White House has called a breach of protocol. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Wednesday: "The president has said the relationship between the US and Israel can't just be reduced to a relationship between the Republican party and the Likud party." Mr Obama does not plan to meet Mr Netanyahu next week. The White House cited the "long-standing practice" of not meeting government leaders close to elections, which Israel will hold in mid-March. Mr Netanyahu is fighting a tough election against the Labour Party's Yitzhak Herzog, who has focused on the prime minister's cooler relations with Mr Obama. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
