Netanyahu urging Congress to oppose deal with Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Obama during a speech before Congress that has frayed relations between the United States and Israel and laid bare fissures between leading Jewish American groups and Jewish Democrats.

"We appreciate all that President Obama has done for Israel," Netanyahu said to applause. Some of what the president has done, he said, isn't known publicly, but is known to Netanyahu.

The prime minister announced the swirling controversy that has enveloped the speech since it was announced in January.

"I know that my speech has been the subject of much controversy. I deeply regret that some perceive my being here as political. That was never my intention," Netanyahu said. He thanked Democrats and Republicans for their support for Israel. The relationship between the two countries, he said, "has always been above politics" and "must always remain above politics."

Netanyahu is discussing a deal that has not yet been reached, on how to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran, he said, poses a "grave threat" to Israel and the world. The prime minister is expressing his concerns in the speech about enriched uranium and Iranian nuclear research and development, as well as his worries about the approach taken to the international nuclear talks.

“We must all stand together to stop Iran’s march of conquest, subjugation and terror," he said.

Iran and the Islamic State are "competing for the crown of militant Islam," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister is aggressively asserting that talks on Iran's nuclear program should not take place, saying he has a "moral obligation to do so. He is deploying a physics lesson to help make his case. He was greeted with raucous applause in the chamber. Netayahu's wife, Sara, and Elie Wiesel, are in attendance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised President Obama during a speech before Congress that has frayed relations between the United States and Israel and laid bare fissures between leading Jewish American groups and Jewish Democrats.

"We appreciate all that President Obama has done for Israel," Netanyahu said to applause. Some of what the president has done, he said, isn't known publicly, but is known to Netanyahu.

The prime minister announced the swirling controversy that has enveloped the speech since it was announced in January.

"I know that my speech has been the subject of much controversy. I deeply regret that some perceive my being here as political. That was never my intention," Netanyahu said. He thanked Democrats and Republicans for their support for Israel. The relationship between the two countries, he said, "has always been above politics" and "must always remain above politics."

Netanyahu is discussing a deal that has not yet been reached, on how to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran, he said, poses a "grave threat" to Israel and the world. The prime minister is expressing his concerns in the speech about enriched uranium and Iranian nuclear research and development, as well as his worries about the approach taken to the international nuclear talks.

“We must all stand together to stop Iran’s march of conquest, subjugation and terror," he said.

Iran and the Islamic State are "competing for the crown of militant Islam," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister is aggressively asserting that talks on Iran's nuclear program should not take place, saying he has a "moral obligation to do so. He is deploying a physics lesson to help make his case. He was greeted with raucous applause in the chamber. Netayahu's wife, Sara, and Elie Wiesel, are in attendance.