Washington – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his controversial speech to a joint session of Congress this morning and he was very articulate and very compelling. During his nearly 50 minute address he was received a number of standing ovations as he spoke to the supportive group.
He was very respectful and complimentary to both President Barack Obama as well as Secretary of State, John Kerry.
He praised both men for their dedication to Israel and their help over his years as the Prime Minister of Israel. He even went out of his way to call to attention on how President Obama had helped him personally over the past eight years.
Despite the prime minister’s kind words after his speech there will still be very strained relations with President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry.
Netanyahu put forward a very strong argument that the path presently being put forth by the United States and the the P5 +1 is the wrong path to take. He strongly made the case the deal being talked about at the P5 + 1 is a bad one and that needs to be abandoned.
Netanyahu said the deal with Iran would provide a short “breakout time” in which the country could develop a nuclear bomb.
“Because Iran’s nuclear program would be largely intact, Iran’s breakout time would be very short,” Mr. Netanyahu said.
He warned that Iran might develop a bomb by violating the restrictions placed on it by a deal, adding that “inspectors document violations. They don’t stop them.”
But he also warned that Iran might be in a better position to develop nuclear weapons in a decade, even after submitting to the 10-year deal.
“Iran could have the means to deliver that nuclear arsenal to the far reaches of the earth including every part of the United States,” the prime minister said.
“It doesn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb, it paves Iran’s path to the bomb.”
Netanyahu argued that Iran’s government was weaker than it looks, given years of sanctions and the falling price of oil.
“They need the deal more than you do,” Mr. Netanyahu told Congress.”
The Israeli prime minister said there was still time to roll back Iran’s nuclear program and that the world should not settle for delaying the inevitable.
“A pilot cannot fly without a plane,” he said. “Without thousands of centrifuges, Iran cannot make nuclear weapons.”
Netanyahu vowed that the Jewish people would defend themselves against aggression in ways they never could before founding of the state of Israel.
“The days when the Jewish people remain passive in the face of genocidal enemies — those days are over,” he vowed.
“Israel will stand,” he pledged, even if that meant it had to “stand alone.”
Netanyahu concluded with a message from Moses, saying “be strong and resolute.”
He said, “May Israel and America always stand together, strong and resolute.”
Waving to the cheering audience, Mr. Netanyahu left after an ovation of more than two minutes.
