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| Netanyahu: Speech 'not intended to disrespect' Obama | Netanyahu: Speech 'not intended to disrespect' Obama |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his coming speech to the US Congress is "not intended to disrespect" President Barack Obama. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his coming speech to the US Congress is "not intended to disrespect" President Barack Obama. |
| In a speech to the top US-Israel lobby, Mr Netanyahu said the last thing he would want is to make Israel a US partisan issue. | In a speech to the top US-Israel lobby, Mr Netanyahu said the last thing he would want is to make Israel a US partisan issue. |
| Mr Netanyahu has been invited to speak at the US Capitol on Tuesday by House Speaker John Boehner about Iran. | Mr Netanyahu has been invited to speak at the US Capitol on Tuesday by House Speaker John Boehner about Iran. |
| It is seen as a rebuke to Mr Obama's threat to veto new sanctions on Iran. | It is seen as a rebuke to Mr Obama's threat to veto new sanctions on Iran. |
| The White House has said Mr Obama will not meet Mr Netanyahu during this trip as he is visiting too close to Israel's election date. | The White House has said Mr Obama will not meet Mr Netanyahu during this trip as he is visiting too close to Israel's election date. |
| The Israeli leader is at odds with the Obama administration's pursuit of negotiations with Iran over their nuclear programme. | The Israeli leader is at odds with the Obama administration's pursuit of negotiations with Iran over their nuclear programme. |
| Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East Editor | Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East Editor |
| This is Mr Netanyahu's most difficult visit to Washington DC. He has come to try to influence the US Congress to do all it can to block a deal with Iran about the future of its nuclear programme. | This is Mr Netanyahu's most difficult visit to Washington DC. He has come to try to influence the US Congress to do all it can to block a deal with Iran about the future of its nuclear programme. |
| Mr Netanyahu said a deal, which is at critical negotiating stage, could threaten the survival of Israel because Iran would still be able to develop a nuclear weapon. Israel has a nuclear weapons programme, which it doesn't open to international inspections. | Mr Netanyahu said a deal, which is at critical negotiating stage, could threaten the survival of Israel because Iran would still be able to develop a nuclear weapon. Israel has a nuclear weapons programme, which it doesn't open to international inspections. |
| Mr Netanyahu sees himself as an Israeli Churchill, warning about dangers ahead. But he has been accused of barging into an American political debate, ignoring all that the Americans do for Israel. | Mr Netanyahu sees himself as an Israeli Churchill, warning about dangers ahead. But he has been accused of barging into an American political debate, ignoring all that the Americans do for Israel. |
| The Obama White House has accused him of intervening in Washington politics, "damaging the fabric" of the relationship between Israel and the US. At home his opponents say he is trying to strengthen his position ahead of elections in two weeks time. | The Obama White House has accused him of intervening in Washington politics, "damaging the fabric" of the relationship between Israel and the US. At home his opponents say he is trying to strengthen his position ahead of elections in two weeks time. |
| The US, along with the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China, are seeking to reach an accord to curtail Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. | The US, along with the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China, are seeking to reach an accord to curtail Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. |
| "I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them" Mr Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) conference in Washington. | "I have a moral obligation to speak up in the face of these dangers while there is still time to avert them" Mr Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) conference in Washington. |
| He added while US leaders "worry about the security of their country", "Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country". | He added while US leaders "worry about the security of their country", "Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country". |
| But Mr Netanyahu said disagreements would not hurt the US-Israel relationship in the long-term. | But Mr Netanyahu said disagreements would not hurt the US-Israel relationship in the long-term. |
| "Reports of the demise of the Israeli-US relationship is not only premature, they're just wrong," Mr Netanyahu said "Our alliance is stronger than ever." | "Reports of the demise of the Israeli-US relationship is not only premature, they're just wrong," Mr Netanyahu said "Our alliance is stronger than ever." |
| The announcement of the Israel prime minister's visit came a day after Mr Obama's annual state of the union address, in which he warned Congress he would veto any attempt to impose additional sanctions on Iran during negotiations. | The announcement of the Israel prime minister's visit came a day after Mr Obama's annual state of the union address, in which he warned Congress he would veto any attempt to impose additional sanctions on Iran during negotiations. |
| Mr Netanyahu was preceded at Aipac's conference by US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, who said the US-Israel relationship would never be politicised but defended negotiations. | Mr Netanyahu was preceded at Aipac's conference by US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, who said the US-Israel relationship would never be politicised but defended negotiations. |
| "We believe diplomacy is the preferred route to secure our shared aim," Ms Power said. "But if diplomacy should fail, we know the stakes of a nuclear-armed Iran as well as everyone here. We will not let it happen." | "We believe diplomacy is the preferred route to secure our shared aim," Ms Power said. "But if diplomacy should fail, we know the stakes of a nuclear-armed Iran as well as everyone here. We will not let it happen." |
| And Secretary of State John Kerry, who is taking part the negotiations in Switzerland, backed Israel's place in the UN at a speech to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). | And Secretary of State John Kerry, who is taking part the negotiations in Switzerland, backed Israel's place in the UN at a speech to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). |
| Saying the HRC's "obsession" with Israel threatened to "undermine" the good work of the organisation, Mr Kerry said the US "will oppose any effort by any group or participant in the UN system to arbitrarily and regularly de-legitimise or isolate Israel". | Saying the HRC's "obsession" with Israel threatened to "undermine" the good work of the organisation, Mr Kerry said the US "will oppose any effort by any group or participant in the UN system to arbitrarily and regularly de-legitimise or isolate Israel". |
| But Mr Kerry also warned Israel about releasing "selective details" of the negotiations with Iran. | But Mr Kerry also warned Israel about releasing "selective details" of the negotiations with Iran. |
| "Doing so would make it more difficult to reach the goal that Israel and others say they share," Mr Kerry said. | "Doing so would make it more difficult to reach the goal that Israel and others say they share," Mr Kerry said. |