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 In an escalation of hostile exchanges between the allies six days
before Netanyahu gives a speech to Congress on the threat from Iran,
the Israeli leader accused world powers of abandoning a pledge to
prevent Tehran from getting a nuclear bomb.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, engaged in international talks
with Tehran on its nuclear program, said Netanyahu may be wrong.
Kerry told a congressional hearing: "He may have a judgment that
just may not be correct here."
Kerry advised waiting to hear what Netanyahu had to say in Tuesday's
speech. Republicans who control Congress invited Netanyahu and agree
with his opposition to an Iran deal.
But Kerry said Netanyahu "was profoundly forward-leaning and
outspoken about the importance of invading Iraq under (President)
George W. Bush, and we all know what happened with that decision."
White House spokesman Josh Earnest, echoing comments by President
Barack Obama's national security adviser Susan Rice, warned against
allowing the U.S.-Israeli relationship to be reduced to a party
political issue, saying this would be destructive.
"The president has said the relationship between the U.S. and Israel
can’t just be reduced to a relationship between the Republican party
and the Likud party," he told reporters, referring to Netanyahu's
party.
The Republicans did not consult Obama or Democrats in Congress, as
is customary before extending an invitation, and Obama said he would
not meet Netanyahu because it would be so close to March 17 Israeli
elections.
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Netanyahu said in a speech in a Jewish settlement near Jerusalem
that world powers had pledged to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear
weapons but appeared to have given up on this commitment.
He said the deal apparently coming together with Iran would allow
the country that has in the past threatened to destroy Israel to
develop the means to create fissile material to produce 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," Netanyahu said.
Last week the administration accused Israel of distorting the U.S.
position in the talks through selective leaks. Iran says its nuclear
program is only for peaceful purposes.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Julia Edwards, Elvina Nawaguna and Allyn
Fisher-Ilan; Editing by David Storey and Howard Goller)
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