"The survival of Israel is not a partisan issue," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday in an address in Jerusalem to a visiting group of members of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. "It concerns everyone, all the supporters of Israel from every political stripe. Just as Iran knows what agreement is being offered to it, it's only natural that Israel knows the details of the emerging agreement," Netanyahu said. "Our consistent position has been that the proposed deal is dangerous to Israel's security, but if there are those who think this is a good deal, why must it be hidden-" Regarding his upcoming speech on Iran to a joint session of Congress on March 3, Netanyahu said, "Why am I going to Congress? Because Israel has been offered the opportunity to make its case on this crucial issue before the world's most important parliament; because a speech before Congress allows Israel to present its position to the elected representatives of the American people and to a worldwide audience; because Congress has played a critical role in applying pressure to the Iranian regime -- the very pressure that has brought the ayatollahs to the negotiating table in the first place; and because Congress may very well have a say on the parameters of any final deal with Iran. That's why I'm going to Congress." On the timing of the speech, Netanyahu said, "The deadline for reaching an agreement with Iran is March 24. That's the date that drives the speech. Now is the time for Israel to make its case -- now before it's too late. Would it be better to complain about a deal that threatens the security of Israel after it's signed? I believe it's more responsible to speak out now to try to influence the negotiations while they're still ongoing. "I think the whole point of Zionism is that the Jewish people would no longer be spectators to the decision-making that determines our fate. Remember, we were once powerless. We were once voiceless. We couldn't even speak on our own behalf. Well, we can and we do now." Netanyahu said that, as prime minister of Israel, "it's my obligation to do everything in my power to prevent the conclusion of a bad deal that could threaten the survival of the State of Israel. "The current proposal to Iran would endanger Israel. It would enable Iran to break out to its first nuclear device within an unacceptably short time. And it would allow Iran to build an industrial capability to enrich uranium that could provide the fuel for many bombs in the coming years. "A regime that openly calls for Israel's destruction would thus have finally the means to realize its genocidal aims. "Now mind you, I'm not opposed to any deal with Iran. I'm opposed to a bad deal with Iran. And I believe this is a very bad deal. I'm certainly not opposed to negotiations. On the contrary -- no country has a greater interest, a greater stake, in the peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear question than does Israel. "But the current proposal will not solve the problem. It will perpetuate and aggravate the problem. It would provide a path for Iran to become a nuclear power. And therefore it's very important that I speak about this in Washington." "That's why I think it's important for me to speak before the members of Congress, all members of Congress, and explain Israel's position. Now there are those who think otherwise. I'm open to hearing their case and I would hope that they would extend Israel, the country whose very existence is threatened by Iran, that same courtesy."
On Tuesday, Netanyahu met in Jerusalem with visiting Republican Congressmen Robert Pittenger of North Carolina and Dennis A. Ross of Florida. At the start of the meeting, Netanyahu said, "The American-Israeli alliance is a powerful one. It's based on common values, common interests. It's a bipartisan relationship. We appreciate the support of Democrats and Republicans alike. We have a great national interest in preventing Iran from acquiring the means to develop nuclear weapons. We believe this isn't a partisan issue. It isn't a Democratic issue; it's not a Republican issue. It's an Israeli issue. It's an American issue. It's a global issue and we believe that the current proposal before Iran, handed over by the P5+1 is very dangerous to Israel and dangerous to the region and the peace of the world.
Joubran said, "The broadcast of the speech does not fall within the definition of election campaigning. Therefore, in principle, there is no prohibition on it being broadcast."
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