Netanyahu Speaks Nice to White House Ahead of Congressional Visit

Benjamin Netanyahu began a much-hyped speech on Monday with a couple of shout-outs.

"Anyone here from California?" the Israeli prime minister said to the audience "Florida? New York? There are the easy ones. How about Colorado?"

The Israeli prime minister was speaking at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's policy conference ahead of an even more-hyped speech on Tuesday, in which Netanyahu is expected to make an aggressive case against the United States' handling of nuclear negotiations with Iran. Netanyahu had previously said that Obama and other world leaders appeared to him to have given up on pressuring Iran to give up its desire to acquire nuclear weapons.

"I'm not going to speak today about the content of that speech, but I do want to say a few words about the purpose of that speech," Netanyahu said Monday. "First, let me clarify what is not the purpose of that speech. My speech is not intended to show any disrespect to President Obama or the esteemed office that he holds. I have great respect for both."

Netanyahu said he didn't want meant to meddle in Congress. "My speech is also not intended to inject Israel into the American partisan debate," he said.

Netanyahu called the U.S.-Israel alliance "stronger than ever," but said there are problems.

"Israel and the United States agree that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. But we disagree on the best way to prevent Iran from developing those weapons," he said. "Disagreements among allies are only natural from time to time, even among the closest of allies."

He later added, "We're like a family. Disagreements in the family are always uncomfortable."

House Speaker John Boehner invited Netanyahu in January to address a joint session of Congress without consulting with the Obama administration. The president, Boehner said back then, "expects us to stand idly by and do nothing while he cuts a bad deal with Iran. Two words: 'Hell no!' " The administration quickly said that Obama would not meet with with Netanyahu while the prime minister is in town, saying that the president didn't want to seem like he is influencing Israel's March 17 elections.

(Related: Is Netanyahu Forging a New Normal in US-Israeli Relations?)

In Washington, Netanyahu's visit has alienated the White House and divided members of Congress, where 30 Democrats—a half-dozen of whom are Jewish—have said they will not attend the speech. Some members have accused Netanyahu of using the congressional visit as a campaign stop. In Israel, voters are wondering whether Netanyahu's Iran policy—and how he's pushing it in the U.S.—is working or has already failed. Netanyahu's Likud party has a lead over other parties in the race but risks not making major gains in parliament.