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Top Republican and Israeli leader
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Boehner in Jerusalem: 'US-Israel bond as strong as ever'

Top Republican heads congressional delegation visiting Middle East allies; Netanyahu: 'One thing remains rock solid – our alliance.'

US House Speaker John Boehner and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Wednesday the "strong" ties between their nations, amid tensions between the Israeli leader and the administration of President Barack Obama.

 

 

But ahead of a meeting in Jerusalem, they both avoided directly addressing negotiations between world powers and Iran over Tehran's contested nuclear program.

 

Boehner and Netanyahu at press conference (Photo: GPO)
Boehner and Netanyahu at press conference (Photo: GPO)

Arriving in Jerusalem as head of a delegation of lawmakers visiting US allies in the Middle East, Boehner said that, wherever they have been, the "message is the same – you can't continue to turn your eye away from the threats that face all of us."

 

Addressing ties with Israel, Boehner said: "The bonds between the United States and Israel are as strong as ever."

 

Despite the current tension, Boehner stressed that "our two countries cooperate on many different levels. While we may have political disagreements from time to time, the bonds between our two nations are strong, and they're going to continue to be strong."

 

US Speaker and Israeli PM (Photo: GPO)
US Speaker and Israeli PM (Photo: GPO)

 

Netanyahu, who urged world powers earlier Wednesday to toughen their positions in the nuclear talks, focused solely on the ties with Washington.

 

"In this violent and unstable region, where states are imploding and fanaticism is exploding, one thing remains rock solid – our friendship, our alliance, our partnership," he said.

 

"It makes both our countries stronger; it makes both our countries safer," Netanyahu said. "And it's the anchor for our shared hopes for peace and stability in this region."

 

Boehner caused a furor earlier this year when he invited Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress on the Iran talks without consulting the White House. In the speech, Netanyahu warned of the perils of agreeing to an imperfect deal with Iran.

 

Citing concerns over the timing of the visit – two weeks before the Likud leader faced elections at home – President Barack Obama declined to meet with him during his stay in Washington.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.01.15, 19:21
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