Democratic U.S. Reps. Rick Larsen and Jim McDermott were among those absent when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress Tuesday.
Larsen said in an email:
“Israel is a great friend and ally of the United States. I am a great friend and ally of Israel. As a friend, I think it is best I not be in a position where my presence could be construed as getting involved in Israel’s domestic politics, which is what this speech has become. However, I will be reviewing the Prime Minister’s comments.
“I expect the focus of the speech to be on the Iranian nuclear negotiations. I supported the Administration’s decision to extend the negotiations. However, negotiations cannot extend forever, and any failure to close a deal will be tied to Iranian reluctance to complete it, not to any demand from the United States.”
McDermott issued the following statement. It read, in part:
“I have listened thoughtfully and respectfully to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s opposition to on-going nuclear negotiations with Iran on countless occasions. I chose not to attend today’s speech because as expected, he once again mischaracterized both the intent and the goals of what could be an historic nuclear deal.
These negotiations have yielded the international community unprecedented access to Iran’s nuclear program, allowing us to gauge the full extent of their nuclear capability and to hammer out a deal with strict enrichment safeguards in place. The threat of additional sanctions or military action before we reach a deal would endanger the diplomatic efforts of the P5+1.
The U.S. and Israel have enjoyed 70 years of close friendship. As such, the U.S. would never enter into any agreement that would jeopardize the security of Israel and it is shameful that the Prime Minister has suggested otherwise. This nuclear deal is in the national and strategic interests of both the U.S. and Israel.
I continue to stand behind the President and our negotiating team as they doggedly pursue a nuclear deal with Iran. After a decade marred by U.S. military action and hawkish rhetoric in the Middle East, it is high time we give diplomacy the chance to work.”
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