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The Phone Call that Upended U.S.-Israel Relations
(Wall Street Journal) Patrick O'Connor and Adam Entous - Administration officials thought the idea of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu addressing a joint session of Congress opposing the emerging Iran deal was cooked up by Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer and Netanyahu, and then proposed to the Republicans in Congress. In fact, it was the other way around, congressional officials said. It started off as a phone call between then-House Speaker John Boehner and the incoming Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, about ways Republicans in Congress could put the brakes on the nuclear pact President Obama was negotiating with Iran. They were not sure whether Netanyahu would agree to accept the invitation when Boehner called Dermer on Jan. 9.