Obama compares U.S.-Israeli tensions over Iran to family feud

PanARMENIAN.Net - President Barack Obama is comparing tensions between the U.S. and Israel over the Iranian nuclear deal to a family feud and says he expects quick improvements in ties between the longtime allies once the accord is implemented, the Associated Press reports.

"Like all families, sometimes there are going to be disagreements," Obama said Friday, Aug 28, in a webcast with Jewish Americans. "And sometimes people get angrier about disagreements in families than with folks that aren't family."

The president's comments came as momentum for the nuclear accord grew on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers will vote next month on a resolution to disapprove of the deal. Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., became the 30th senator to publicly back the agreement, saying Friday that it was a good deal for America and for allies like Israel.

If Senate Democrats can amass 41 votes in favor of the deal, they could block passage of the disapproval resolution. Obama has vowed to veto the resolution if it passes, and Democrats could hold off Republican efforts to override his veto if they get 34 votes — just four more than they have now.

The president encouraged skeptics of the agreement to "overcome the emotions" that have infused the debate and evaluate the accord based on facts.

"I would suggest that in terms of the tone of this debate everybody keep in mind that we're all pro-Israel," he said. "We have to make sure that we don't impugn people's motives."

Obama disputed the notion that Iran would funnel the bulk of the money it receives from the sanctions relief into terrorism, saying Iranian leaders are more likely to try to bolster their weak economy. He also said the agreement wasn't built on trusting Iran's government, which frequently spouts anti-American and anti-Israeli rhetoric.

"It's precisely because we're not counting on the nature of the regime to change that it's so important for us to make sure they don't have a nuclear weapon," he said.