John Kerry says Benjamin Netanyahu is “welcome to speak” in the United States.
Susan Rice calls an upcoming speech by Netanyahu “destructive.”
Who is correct, the secretary of state or the Obama administration’s national security adviser?
I’ll put my money on Secretary Kerry.
http://thehill.com/policy/international/234242-kerry-netanyahu-is-welcome-to-speak
Netanyahu is going to speak Tuesday to a joint congressional session about Iran. President Obama wishes he wouldn’t make the speech; Obama has no plans to meet with Netanyahu while the Israeli prime minister is in this country — at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner.
Bibi’s talk will center on Iran’s desire to develop a nuclear program, which critics say — correctly, in my view — is a precursor to the Islamic Republic seeking a nuclear weapon. Israel doesn’t want the Iranians to have a nuke. Neither does the United States.
However, let’s stipulate something. The United States prides itself on freedom of expression. It extends that freedom to friendly foreign dignitaries. Set aside reports of serious tension between Netanyahu and Obama over this upcoming speech and consider that the two nations remain ironclad allies.
Kerry said the relationship, “in terms of security,” has never been stronger.
Let’s hear what the prime minister has to say.