President Obama continued to defend his nuclear deal with Iran in yet another speech Wednesday, in which he rattled off several doozies, including comparing the GOP with those Iranians who chant "death to America." But what the president had to say about Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's reaction just adds to the plethora of "greatest hits" present in the speech.
After spending some time knocking Republicans for opposing this deal and assuring that there is no better deal to be had, Obama turned to Israel's opposition and said that though it's understandable that they are skeptical, they are "wrong" nonetheless. Comforting words, no doubt, from someone who admits the extreme danger Israel faces because of Iran:
No one can blame Israelis for having a deep skepticism about any dealings with the government like Iran's, which includes leaders who deny the Holocaust, embrace an ideology of anti-Semitism, facilitate the flow of rockets that are arrayed on Israel's borders, are pointed at Tel Aviv.
Obama added that Israel is capable of defending itself "against any conventional danger" without the help of the U.S. -- then pats himself on the back for being the president that had done more than any other "to strengthen Israel's security." And apparently in effort to comfort the nation further and boost the Iran deal, Obama added:
So to friends of Israel and the Israeli people, I say this: a nuclear-armed Iran is far more dangerous to Israel, to America, and to the world than an Iran that benefits from sanctions relief.
Speaking to Netanyahu, Obama said the Israeli PM is "wrong" to not be on board with this deal:
I recognize that prime minister Netanyahu disagrees, disagrees strongly. I do not doubt his sincerity, but I believe he is wrong. I believe the facts support this deal. I believe they are in America's interests and Israel's interests, and as president of the United States it would be an abrogation of my constitutional duty to act against my best judgment simply because it causes temporary friction with a dear friend and ally.
I do not believe that would be the right thing to do for the United States, I do not believe it would be the right thing to do for Israel.

