Johnson, Ryan join Ohio’s senators for Netanyahu’s speech

March 4, 2015 at 12:09a.m.

and LINDA M. LINONIS

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson and Tim Ryan as well as U.S. Sens. Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown attended Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint meeting of Congress in Washington.

Johnson, of Marietta, R-6th, said: “Israel and the United States have a long, proud history and commitment to one another, and we must remain dedicated to the common purpose of ensuring that Iran never succeeds in arming itself with a nuclear weapon.”

Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, director of Jewish Community Relations Council of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, said: “It was a powerful speech. He made cohesive and informed remarks concerning the danger of Iran becoming a nuclear power.

“It was evident in chambers that the U.S.-Israeli relationship is important.”

She said “tremendous bipartisan support” was apparent.

Burdman attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference Sunday through Tuesday in Washington. Netanyahu spoke at the AIPAC conference Monday. Burdman said some 16,000 people from North America, Europe and Israel participated.

She said she was meeting with area legislators today as part of the government affairs part of her job with the federation.

“There is a level of commitment by the United States to Israel to ensure its safety and security,” she said. “The U.S. is a tremendous partner in intelligence sharing with Israel.”

Burdman said Netanyahu “praised the president for his work to strengthen the relationship with Israel.”

Tuesday’s speech was a source of controversy with the White House criticizing Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio for inviting Netanyahu without consulting President Barack Obama.

Also, the speech came exactly two weeks before Israel’s election, causing some to complain about the timing, and Obama has said the best way to deal with Iran’s efforts to obtain nuclear weapons is through diplomacy. Iran’s efforts were a key topic of Netanyahu’s speech.

“I’m disappointed in President Obama for not agreeing to meet with the prime minister during his trip to the United States,” Johnson said. “The president and his administration continue to negotiate with Iran — the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world — while giving a cold shoulder to our closest ally in the region. Israel is a democratic island in a sea of dictators, political upheaval and terrorism. America must remain a close ally of Israel.”

Some Democrats refused to attend the speech, but Ryan, of Howland, D-13th, and Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, attended.

Ryan’s office declined to comment on Tuesday’s speech.

Ryan and Brown had previously said they were disappointed Boehner invited Netanyahu without first talking to the White House.

“It was valuable to hear from our strongest and closest ally in the region,” Brown said. “Regardless of differences related to the ongoing negotiations, we share the same goal of securing Israel’s safety and agree that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Portman, a Republican from the Cincinnati area, said: “There should be no mixed messages regarding our strong strategic partnership, and I plan to continue my efforts to ensure the United States stands with our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel. Any agreement must stop the Iranian nuclear weapons program, and be enforceable and verifiable.”