Netanyahu: I’m not seeking ‘confrontation’ with Obama

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending his upcoming address to Congress, saying his focus is Israel’s “survival” not stoking a “confrontation” with President Obama.

“I intend to speak in the U.S. Congress because Congress might have an important role on a nuclear deal with Iran,” Netanyahu tweeted Tuesday in an excerpt from a statement he posted on his Facebook page.

“I am going to the United States not because I seek a confrontation with the President, but to speak up for the very survival of my country.”

I must fulfill my obligation to speak up on a matter that affects the very survival of my country.

—בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 10, 2015

Netanyahu plans to address Congress on March 3 to warn against a nuclear deal with Iran, but it has sparked a partisan scuffle on Capitol Hill.

Republicans and Democrats have been at odds over Netanyahu’s visit. Democrats and White House aides have panned House Republican leadership for not conferring with the president before inviting Netanyahu. Vice President Biden won’t attend the speech, and more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers are boycotting it.

{mosads}Republicans, though, have doubled down in support of Netanyahu’s visit, saying it is important for lawmakers to hear his views and insisting the speech will go ahead.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest played down any notion of a rift between President Obama and Netanyahu during Tuesday’s press conference. 

He said Obama has repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to Israel and that he wants to remain neutral by not meeting Netanyahu just weeks before the Israeli leader is up for reelection in March.

“The president does not want to be in a position of even appearing to interfere with the outcome of an Israeli election,” Earnest said.

“The relationship between the United States and Israel, and certainly between leaders in Israel and leaders in the United States, shouldn’t just be reduced to the relationship between political parties. It’s actually a relationship between two allies.”

Netanyahu said Israel and the United States have had “disagreements” over the years about “Israel’s security,” but the relationship between the two countries has only strengthened. He added that he holds nothing against President Obama personally and appreciates “all that he has done for Israel.”

But he said he held a “profound disagreement” with America over continued diplomacy with Iran.

Iran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but Israel fears it is developing a nuclear weapon that could put Israel’s existence in danger.

“This is a regime, Iran, that is openly committed to Israel’s destruction,” Netanyahu said.

“It would be able, under this deal, to break out to a nuclear weapon in a short time, and within a few years, to have the industrial capability to produce many nuclear bombs for the goal of our destruction.”