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U.S. House leader invites Israeli PM to address Congress

Xinhua, January 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Speaker of House of Representatives John Boehner on Wednesday invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of U.S. Congress next month.

The invitation came one day after President Barack Obama delivered his annual State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress, in which he warned against any bill seeking fresh sanctions on Iran amid ongoing negotiations toward a comprehensive deal over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

Netanyahu opposes the talks and has warned against a "bad" deal with Iran that enables Tehran to develop nuclear weapons with sanctions eased on it.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu is a great friend of our country, and this invitation carries with it our unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of his people," Boehner was quoted as saying in a press release.

"In this time of challenge, I am asking the prime minister to address Congress on the grave threats radical Islam and Iran pose to our security and way of life," he added. "Americans and Israelis have always stood together in shared cause and common ideals, and now we must rise to the moment again."

Netanyahu was invited to speak on Feb. 11, his third appearance before a joint meeting of Congress if he accepts the offer and his second during Boehner's speakership.

Netanyahu delivered speeches on July 10, 1996 and May 24, 2011. Ehud Olmert, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin were among Israeli prime ministers who had addressed U.S. Congress. Endite