Susan Rice: Netanyahu’s
speech ‘destructive’
By Katie Zezima February 25
National Security Adviser Susan Rice denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address to a joint meeting of Congress, calling it "destructive" to the relationship between the United States and Israel.
Rice, appearing on "Charlie Rose," said that Netanyahu's decision to accept the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner to offer critical views of a potential nuclear deal with Iran shortly before the Israeli elections has "injected a degree of partisanship, which is not only unfortunate. I think it's destructive of the fabric of the relationship. Netanyahu is scheduled to speak March 3; the Israeli elections are March 17.
"It's always been bipartisan. We need to keep it that way. We want it that way. I think Israel wants it that way. The American people want it that way. And when it becomes injected or infused with politics, that's a problem," Rice said Tuesday, using the strongest language yet from an Obama administration official regarding a visit that has rankled both sides and strained ties between the countries.
President Obama has said that he will not meet with Netanyahu while he is in Washington and Vice President Joe Biden will be traveling abroad. High-ranking Democrats have said they will boycott the speech. Netanyahu has declined a meeting
By Katie Zezima February 25
National Security Adviser Susan Rice denounced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming address to a joint meeting of Congress, calling it "destructive" to the relationship between the United States and Israel.
Rice, appearing on "Charlie Rose," said that Netanyahu's decision to accept the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner to offer critical views of a potential nuclear deal with Iran shortly before the Israeli elections has "injected a degree of partisanship, which is not only unfortunate. I think it's destructive of the fabric of the relationship. Netanyahu is scheduled to speak March 3; the Israeli elections are March 17.
"It's always been bipartisan. We need to keep it that way. We want it that way. I think Israel wants it that way. The American people want it that way. And when it becomes injected or infused with politics, that's a problem," Rice said Tuesday, using the strongest language yet from an Obama administration official regarding a visit that has rankled both sides and strained ties between the countries.
President Obama has said that he will not meet with Netanyahu while he is in Washington and Vice President Joe Biden will be traveling abroad. High-ranking Democrats have said they will boycott the speech. Netanyahu has declined a meeting
with Democratic lawmakers.
"This is the U.S.-Israeli relationship that extends beyond parties," Obama said at a news
conference earlier this month. "And the way to preserve that is to make sure that it
doesn’t get clouded with what could be perceived as partisan politics."
Obama has said that he would veto a bipartisan bill that would impose additional sanctions on Iran. The move, Obama said, would undermine talks over the nation's nuclear program and risk setting up a military confrontation.
"We do have a profound disagreement today w/U.S. Admin & P5+1 over the offer that has been made to Iran which threatens Israel's survival," Netanyahu Tweeted earlier this month, using the reference to the six-nation group of world powers involved in the Iran talks.
Netahyahu said he wants to address Congress because it may have "an important role" in an Iranian nuclear deal and he does not seek a "confrontation" with Obama but needs to "speak up for very survival of my country."
Obama has said that he would veto a bipartisan bill that would impose additional sanctions on Iran. The move, Obama said, would undermine talks over the nation's nuclear program and risk setting up a military confrontation.
"We do have a profound disagreement today w/U.S. Admin & P5+1 over the offer that has been made to Iran which threatens Israel's survival," Netanyahu Tweeted earlier this month, using the reference to the six-nation group of world powers involved in the Iran talks.
Netahyahu said he wants to address Congress because it may have "an important role" in an Iranian nuclear deal and he does not seek a "confrontation" with Obama but needs to "speak up for very survival of my country."
When asked if she believes that Netanyahu is coming to the U.S. to influence the Israeli
election, Rice said that she is "not going to ascribe motives to the prime minister."
"We want the relationship between the United States and Israel to be unquestionably strong, immutable, regardless of political seasons in either country, regardless of which party may be in charge in either country. We've worked very hard to have that and we will work very hard to maintain that," she said.
Rice touched on a number of other issues in the wide-ranging interview. When asked if the U.S. should lift sanctions on Iran, Rice said said the Iranians will not be able to "convince anybody on day one" that they have stopped enriching uranium. Instead, they will have to prove over time that they are holding up their end of a deal. Rice said that when the interim deal was entered into last year, there were questions over whether the Iranians would comply.
"They have enabled us to validate that they have, in fact, taken all the steps that they committed to take and that they're in full compliance. That model will need to be sustained in any comprehensive agreement," she said.
The United States and allies fear that Iran's uranium enrichment program could eventually lead to development of nuclear weapons. Iran says it only seeks to make nuclear fuel for energy-producing reactors and medical applications.
When asked if she takes Russian President Vladimir Putin's word that he wants fighting to end in Ukraine, Rice said: "How dumb do I look? No. In all seriousness, no. One cannot accept Vladimir Putin at his word because his actions have belied his words repeatedly, particularly in the context of Ukraine."
"We want the relationship between the United States and Israel to be unquestionably strong, immutable, regardless of political seasons in either country, regardless of which party may be in charge in either country. We've worked very hard to have that and we will work very hard to maintain that," she said.
Rice touched on a number of other issues in the wide-ranging interview. When asked if the U.S. should lift sanctions on Iran, Rice said said the Iranians will not be able to "convince anybody on day one" that they have stopped enriching uranium. Instead, they will have to prove over time that they are holding up their end of a deal. Rice said that when the interim deal was entered into last year, there were questions over whether the Iranians would comply.
"They have enabled us to validate that they have, in fact, taken all the steps that they committed to take and that they're in full compliance. That model will need to be sustained in any comprehensive agreement," she said.
The United States and allies fear that Iran's uranium enrichment program could eventually lead to development of nuclear weapons. Iran says it only seeks to make nuclear fuel for energy-producing reactors and medical applications.
When asked if she takes Russian President Vladimir Putin's word that he wants fighting to end in Ukraine, Rice said: "How dumb do I look? No. In all seriousness, no. One cannot accept Vladimir Putin at his word because his actions have belied his words repeatedly, particularly in the context of Ukraine."
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