RCA Calls for Bipartisan Attendance at Netanyahu’s Speech to Congress

The Rabbinical Council of America, the largest organization of Orthodox rabbis in North America, calls on those who have announced that they will not be present for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress to reconsider. Frank discussion about a nuclear-threshold Iran is too important to be sidelined by partisan politics.

We are proud of the historically strong bipartisan support for the State of Israel, support built on shared values of democracy, security and human rights and are therefore gravely concerned by the recent tensions in the historically strong American-Israeli partnership. We urge all parties to disavow the escalated rhetoric and to reaffirm the decades of close diplomatic, political, economic, and military cooperation between these two allies. The national interests of both countries require all to see beyond the distractions of the moment.

The Israeli government views a nuclear-capable Iran as an existential threat not only to its own existence, but to all peace loving countries. As such, Prime Minister Netanyahu comes to fulfill his duty as a responsible leader to explain his concerns as negotiations between Iran and the P5 plus 1 countries are coming to a close. We agree with statesmen both in the United States and Israel, that no deal with Iran is better than a bad one.

Rabbi Leonard Matanky, president of the Rabbinical Council of America, stated, “The politics of the moment cannot distract us from long term interests– the safety and security of the United States, Israel, and all peace loving countries. We believe the Prime Minister should be given a fair hearing. We trust that the strong bipartisan support for the State of Israel can weather this political disagreement and that these two vital allies, the United States and Israel, can continue their strong alliance to pursue their mutual goals and national interests.”