AFP, Washington, May 19, 2009 – Top US lawmakers met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday, telling him they share deep concerns over Iran’s suspect nuclear programs and offering support for Middle East peace.
One day after tense White House talks with US President Barack Obama, Netanyahu told Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner he saw the Congress as ’great friends of Israel.’
The prime minister, seemingly at odds with Obama on Iran and the US push for creating a Palestinian state, said he saw ’an American consensus’ regarding ’the special relationship we have between Israel and the United States.’
’We face opportunities and challenge. The challenge is the potential arming of Iran with nuclear weapons capabilities. That is a great danger to all of us,’ warned Netanyahu.
The prime minister said he would pursue ’the advancement of peace between us and the Palestinians’ — omitting talk of a Palestinian state — as well as normal relations with the broader Arab world.
’We have to do this in tandem,’ said Netanyahu. ’I was very encouraged to learn that this is the American policy. We’re going to try to do it together, because if we do it together we’ll get a lot further, a lot faster.’
Pelosi and Boehner, at odds over major issues of domestic policy and bitter foes in the dispute over alleged US torture, underlined the consensus in the US Congress over the need to keep Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
’The question of Iran is one that is of concern to us in Congress,’ said Pelosi. ’It is an issue for the world. It is important for all of us to work together to be sure that Iran does not develop a weapon of mass destruction.’
Pelosi noted the goal of ’a two-state solution — but I emphasize the word ’solution.’ It must be a solution that provides for a democratic Jewish state of Israel living side by side with her Palestinian neighbors.’
’Clearly, what happens with regard to dealing with the Palestinians is of concern to all of us. And I think we share, as the speaker said, a mutual concern about the development of nuclear weapons in Israel — I mean in Iran,’ said Boehner.