Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu tells members of Congress Iranian threat is ‘like 50 North Korea’

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, told US congressmen on Thursday that Iran is like “50 North Korea” and if it could threaten every US city with nuclear extortion, it would change history.

The prime minister met with a bipartisan group of House members, led by the chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, Michael Turner.

Netanyahu with members of Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with a bipartisan group of congressmen on Thursday. (Haim Tzach, GPO (Government Press Office))

The meeting was held in Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, in what appeared to be a “round table” type discussion, and he was asked about Iran.

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“Iran is like 50 North Korea,” he said. “It’s not just a neighborhood bully, like the dynasty that rules North Korea. This is an ideological force that sees us, Israel, as a little Satan, and sees you as the big Satan. And to have North Korea, or rather Iran, being able to threaten every city in the United States with nuclear blackmail, is a story changer.”

The bipartisan delegation of House members comes at a time of political tension in both countries.

Netanyahu talks to members of Congress

A bipartisan group in Congress met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday. (Haim Tzach, GPO (Government Press Office))

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., spoke in Israel earlier this week and criticized the Biden administration for not inviting Netanyahu to the White House.

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McCarthy reportedly said during the visit that he will invite the prime minister to Washington if Biden does not.

In a sign of the strained relationship between the Biden administration and Netanyahu’s conservative coalition, US national security spokesman John Kirby remained largely vague about a visit, declaring: “Israeli leaders have a long history of visits in Washington. President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu have known each other for a long time. I expect the prime minister will visit at some point.” Kirby noted that there are no definitive dates for a fight.

In 2015, Netanyahu defied the Obama administration, which pressured him not to address Congress opposing the Democrat-drafted Iran nuclear deal which, according to the Israeli government, poses an existential threat to the Jewish state.

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Communist China recently overtook the United States and helped normalize diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Veterans in the Middle East see the restoration of ties between one of America’s main enemies, Iran, and a longtime US ally, Saudi Arabia, as a devastating setback for Washington’s power in the region .

The United States has ranked the Iranian regime as the worst international sponsor of terrorism in the world.

This week’s visit also comes as tensions in Israel have risen.

Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes a cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem on Thursday, February 23, 2023. ((Ronen Zvulun/Pool photo via AP))

Netanyahu is seeking to shift power from the judiciary to the Knesset, while opponents of the move believe it will weaken Israel’s system of checks and balances.

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Weekly mass demonstrations against judicial reform efforts have taken place since early 2023. A second counter-protest, which also filled the streets with protesters, took place last week to support an overhaul of the Israeli judiciary.

Yonat Friling and Benjamin Weinthal of Fox News contributed to this report.

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