Boehner: US-Israel ties ‘as strong as ever’

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) declared that the bonds between the U.S. and Israel are “as strong as ever.”

But their meeting in Jerusalem came amid a growing rift between the recently reelected prime minister and the Obama administration, as Secretary of State John Kerry continues to push ahead on nuclear talks with Iran that both Netanyahu and the Speaker oppose.

{mosads}Boehner is on the last leg of a five-day tour through the Middle East focused on national security and the threat of terrorism from the Islamic State.

“Regardless of where in the Middle East we’ve been, the message has been the same: You can’t continue to turn your eye away from the threats that face all of us. As you said, the bonds between the United States and Israel are as strong as ever,” Boehner said in a joint news conference with Netanyahu.

“Our two countries cooperate on many different levels. And while we may have political disagreements from time to time, the bonds between our two nations are strong, and they’re going to continue to be strong,” the Speaker continued. “It’s been an historic trip, and frankly, it’s an historic opportunity to be here in Israel at this time.”

Just weeks earlier, Netanyahu traveled to Washington to address a joint session of Congress, where he warned about the dangers of a potential deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program. The visit angered White House officials, who had not been notified before Boehner invited the Israeli leader.

They also didn’t think it was appropriate for Netanyahu to give the speech, a political rally some called it, so close to his election day. The prime minister won, though polling had showed a tight race.

Boehner has been leading a delegation of House Republicans through the Middle East. On Tuesday, the group was in Riyadh for meetings with Saudi Interior Minister Mohammed bin Naif and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman. On Monday in Baghdad, they met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq Salim al-Jabouri.

Earlier this week, they met with King Abdullah II and other top officials in Jordan.

The GOP lawmakers traveling with Boehner are: Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (Minn.), Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (Calif.), and Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.), Rodney Frelinghuysen (N.J.), Tom Cole (Okla.), Ken Calvert (Calif.), Mike Simpson (Idaho) and Martha Roby (Ala.).