House Speaker John Boehner stood side-by-side with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem Wednesday, insisting that bonds between the two nations are “strong as ever” and “they’re going to continue to be strong.”
Their warm meeting came the same day world powers were racing a deadline to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran and stood in stark contrast to the frigid treatment Netanyahu has received from the White House.
“The bonds between the United States and Israel are as strong as ever,” Boehner declared in their joint appearance.
“Our two countries cooperate on many different levels. And 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.”
Netanyahu was equally effusive in describing the US-Israeli relationship.
“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,” Netanyahu said.
Boehner didn’t mention the sensitive Iran talks, which both he and Netanyahu have criticized.
But the Republican leader, who was heading a congressional delegation on a tour that included Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, made a point of calling for strength in the face of aggression.
“Regardless of where in the Middle East we’ve been, the message has been the same: you can’t continue to turn your eye away from the threats that face all of us,” Boehner said.
Netanyahu refrained from bringing up Iran while the two leaders stood together, which would have been politically awkward for Boehner.
Instead, the prime minister took the podium before Boehner arrived to blast the extension of the US-led talks with Iran, noting that an Iranian militia leader just a day before had said the destruction of Israel was “non-negotiable.”
“But evidently, giving Iran’s murderous regime a clear path to the bomb is negotiable,” Netanyahu fumed. “This is unconscionable.”
Boehner has long been critical of the Obama administration’s talks with Iran, and caused a huge rift between Obama and Netanyahu when the House speaker invited the prime minister to address Congress without the White House’s blessing.
During his fiery speech in DC last month, Netanyahu warned lawmakers about the dangers of an Iran deal just as the administration was pleading with them not to prejudge the talks, which are aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons in exchange for loosening sanctions.
For security reasons, Boehner has stayed mum on the details of his Mideast tour.
But foreign governments have proudly leaked pictures of their visiting honored guest.
Though he wouldn’t call the reunion with Bibi a “victory lap,” Boehner made sure to congratulate the prime minister, who rallied to win re-election last month.
