Kerry: Israeli PM ‘Welcome’ to Speak

Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is welcome to speak to Congress, but cautioned the Obama administration did not want the address “turned into some great political football.” In an interview with ABC’s This Week, Kerry attempted to allay tensions between the U.S. and Israel ahead of Netanyahu’s planned speech objecting to a deal between Iran and world powers over its nuclear capabilities. Netanyahu’s expected address has strained relations with the Obama administration in recent weeks, as the speech was planned without informing the White House and at the invitation of House Republicans. Kerry, who traveled to Switzerland to meet with Iran’s foreign minister, said he spoke to Netanyahu as recently as Saturday and added that Israel was safer thanks to the short-term nuclear deal negotiated in 2013.