Moulton reaffirms support for Israel, Netanyahu

Saying he “wanted to hear what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to say,” U.S. Rep. Seth W. Moulton attended the Israeli leader?s speech to Congress Tuesday over objections from President Obama.Netanyahu, in what the Associated Press described as “a direct challenge to the White House,” bluntly warned the U.S. that an emerging nuclear agreement with Iran “paves Iran?s path to the bomb.”?This is a bad deal. It is a very bad deal. We are better off without it,” he declared in an emotionally charged speech.The address was arranged by Republicans, who cheered Netanyahu in the packed chamber, repeatedly standing.Democrats were more restrained, frustrated with the effort to undercut Obama?s negotiations. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., issued a blistering statement criticizing what she called Netanyahu?s condescension.Moulton in a statement offered a more measured perspective on Netanyahu?s appearance.?While I do not support the way in which the prime minister?s Congressional address was set up, the fact is our country?s friendship and commitment to Israel?s long-term security is unwavering,” said Moulton.The speech was organized by U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, reportedly without consultation with the White House. The AP reported Obama declined to meet with Netanyahu during his current visit.At the center of the speech and U.S. negotiations in Switzerland with Iran is the goal of backing Iran off from becoming a nuclear nation.According to Netanyahu, the deal on the table offers two major concessions: Iran would be left with a vast nuclear infrastructure and restrictions on Iran?s nuclear program would be lifted in about a decade.The AP reported Obama as saying that Iran will not have a motivation to curb its nuclear program if it cannot look forward to the prospect of long-standing economic sanctions being lifted.As Netanyahu spoke, Secretary of State John Kerry was holding a three-hour negotiating session with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in the Swiss resort of Montreux in hopes of completing an international framework agreement later this month to curb Tehran?s nuclear program.