Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in front of a joint session of Congress Tuesday, March 3, 2015, about a potential nuclear deal between the United States and Iran brought mixed reaction from lawmakers.
Dozens of lawmakers did not attend the speech because there was not any consultation with the White House about Netanyahu's address.
One of those that did not attend was Iowa Congressman Loebsack, who watched the speech in his office.
In a statement he said, "The strategic importance between Israel and the United States is as important as ever as we work towards the commonly held goal of ensuring Iran does not achieve nuclear weapons capability. Since being founded in 1948, Israel has been and remains one of our closest allies and the relationship has long been a bipartisan one. But after Speaker Boehner injected partisan politics into the debate, this speech became nothing more than a spectacle where attendance at the speech mattered more than what was actually said. It is my hope that we can now move beyond this speech and continue to move towards a deal with Iran that has strict verification mechanisms to ensure Iran does not get nuclear weapons capabilities."
Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos did attend the speech. Colin Milligan, her Communications Director, released a statement saying, "Congresswoman Bustos believes Israel is one of our most important allies and was honored to visit the country in 2013. She is disappointed by the manner in which the invitation to Prime Minister Netanyahu was extended by Congressional leaders, but she attended his speech today in an effort to rise above politics and show respect for our historic and enduring friendship with Israel."
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst also attended the speech. "Prime Minister Netanyahu gave a commanding speech that needed to be heard by the American people from our closest ally and strategic partner in the Middle East- Israel. The response to today's speech was overwhelmingly positive from both Democrats and Republicans alike," she said, "I wholeheartedly agree that the United States cannot stand by and watch Iran assemble nuclear capabilities which presents a grave threat to Israel and our nation. This is not an idle threat from Iran. As I have said, the U.S. must confront Iran's nuclear ambitions and take the necessary steps to support Israel in their right to defend itself."
On his website, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said, "American's support for Israel has historically been bipartisan, forging the strongest of ties between our two nations. That is why I was deeply troubled by the manner in which Speaker Boehner invited the Prime Minister to address the joint session--without consultation with the White House or the Democratic leadership of the House or Senate. I attended the session out of respect for Israel and our common purpose of denying nuclear arms to Iran. President Obama has made it clear that the purpose of the P5+1 negotiations is to prevent a nuclear armed Iran. We all agree on that goal. Were it not for the President's efforts we would not have this international coalition imposing the sanctions on Iran that brought them to the table in the first place. These negotiations and the peaceful resolution we hope they yield must be given a chance to succeed."
Illinois Senator Mark Kirk also released a statement on his website that said, "Today, Prime Minister Netanyahu made a powerful case to the American people on why a bad nuclear deal with Iran, one that allows the world’s biggest state sponsor of terrorism to keep vast capabilities to make the world’s worst weapons, is worse than no deal. Iran and its terror proxies have killed more Americans than the Islamic State and are actively exporting violence and aggression throughout the Middle East. A nuclear-armed Iran poses the greatest long-term threat to the United States, Israel and our allies in the Gulf. "
It went on to say, "Prime Minister Netanyahu is right to argue that the clear alternative to a bad deal is a better deal with Iran that only lifts crippling pressure on the Iranian regime when it stops its nuclear weapons program, stops aggression against its neighbors, stops supporting terrorism and stops threatening to annihilate Israel. The best way to get a better deal is for Congress to keep up the pressure on Iran through the Kirk-Menendez legislation.”
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said in a statement, "The speech was moving and forceful. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s candid assessment of the danger of a nuclear weapons-capable Iran needed to be said. The assessment gave Congress and the American people the opportunity to hear directly from the leader of a close ally on the latest security threats from a volatile Middle East. Complacency is not the answer. Support for Israel means fostering democracy in the Middle East. It means maintaining an important strategic partnership in a critical part of the world. And it means ensuring Israel’s inherent right to self-defense.”