House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner held a press availability this morning in advance of their meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Here are their complete remarks:
Speaker Pelosi. Good morning.
It is an honor and privilege, once again, to welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu to the Capitol of the United States. I’ve had the privilege of meeting with the Prime Minister in Israel on many occasions over the years and to welcome him here before.
He is a strong leader for the Israeli people, a man prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of peace and security of his country. The long friendship between the United States and Israel is founded on common values of democracy, pluralism, and freedom, and common hopes for peace and security for our children. We in Congress stand by Israel, something we have a joint bipartisan commitment — no separation between us on this subject. In Congress, we speak with one voice on the subject of Israel.
Together, we remain committed to advancing the peace process, preserving Israel’s security, responsible sanctions against Iran. Working to finalize Iran’s sanctions bill right now — we are –and collaborating with the President to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. And opening candid dialogue as friends and partners about the path forward and security for Israel.
I look forward to all of us having a productive discussion with Prime Minister Netanyahu and strengthening the deep and abiding friendship between our two countries. I’m pleased to be joined by our Democratic Whip, Mr. Clyburn. And now we’re going to hear from the distinguished Republican Leader of the House, Mr. Boehner.
Republican Leader Boehner. I’m pleased to be here this morning and to welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu.
We have no stronger ally anywhere in the world than Israel. And we all know that we’re in a difficult moment. But I’m glad that the Prime Minister is here at this moment so that we can have a open and straight-forward dialogue about how we can provide more security for our friends in Israel and do everything we can to make sure that the Iranians have no ability to develop a nuclear weapon.
Speaker Pelosi. Mr. Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Netanyahu. Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank you, John. Thank you. It’s really a pleasure and I say that unreservedly to come back to Congress to see this point of consensus about the support, the warm support — the enduring support for the State of Israel and we enjoy from the representatives of the people of the United States of America. It’s bipartisan support. It’s genuine. It’s real. It’s the detailed. It’s serious. And it’s deeply, deeply appreciated by the people of Israel, across the board.
We face two great challenges. The first is the quest for peace with our Palestinian neighbors. And the second is the ability of the international community to stop the Iranian tyranny from developing atomic weapons, which would directly threaten the State of Israel, but threaten the entire world, and threaten the Untied States of America. If this terror tyranny acquires atomic bombs, they could easily give them to terrorist proxies. They could also contemplate using these weapons themselves. And this is something of intolerable danger to all of us.
So I look forward to discussing with the representatives of the American people — with Speaker Pelosi and with the Minority Leader and, of course, with all the Representatives here — about how to pursue these twin goals of peace and security.
We have confidence that even though the challenges are immense, our will and our partnership is also immense. And I thank you for giving us that constant support and for being unflagging in your friendship.
Thank you very much.
Speaker Pelosi. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister.
