WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began a three-day visit to the United States on Monday with a warning that a nuclear deal with Iran “could threaten the survival of Israel”.

The visit aims at preventing a potential nuclear deal between Iran and six major world powers, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

“American leaders worry about the security of their country. Israeli leaders worry about the survival of their country,” Mr Netanyahu told a large gathering of more than 15,000 people at the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Know more: US seeks to complete N-deal with Iran despite Israel’s objections

The centrepiece of Mr Netanyahu’s visit is an address to the US Congress on Tuesday when he is expected to urge the lawmakers to use their influence to block the deal.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, however, cautioned Israel not to undercut nuclear negotiations with Iran that resumed in Geneva on Monday.

“Israel’s security is absolutely at the forefront of all our minds, but frankly so is the security of all of the other countries in the region. So is our security,” Mr Kerry said.

Kerry warns premier against revealing details of proposed agreement

Mr Kerry also warned Mr Netanyahu against revealing details of the nuclear deal. While he did not mention the Israeli premier, he told reporters in Geneva he was “concerned by reports” that “selective details” of the deal aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme would be revealed in the coming days.

His comments came after an Israeli official said the Jewish state knew about the emerging agreement and that the prime minister would elaborate on it in his congressional address.

Mr Kerry had said on Sunday that the Obama administration would like to complete the deal with Iran despite Israel’s objections because it would bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

Iran and the six major powers have already signed an interim deal and are trying to conclude a final agreement by March 31.

Mr Netanyahu’s scheduled address to Congress has strained Israel’s relations with the Obama White House, which has been kept out of the loop.

Republicans, who control both chambers of the US Congress, used House Speaker John Boehner to send a direct invitation to Mr Netanyahu without informing the White House.

Secretary Kerry said the decision to keep the White House out was “odd, if not unique” but he promised not to politicise the issue.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC News survey found that 48 per cent of registered voters disapproved the move to invite the Israeli prime minister without notifying President Barack Obama first. Thirty per cent said the invitation was okay, and another 22pc said they didn’t know enough to judge.

Senior administration officials have indicated that Mr Obama had no plans to invite Mr Netanyahu to the White House and the two leaders were unlikely to meet during this week.

Published in Dawn March 3rd , 2015

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