Israeli ambassador in Skokie passionate in defense of Netanyahu

Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, recently under fire in some quarters for arranging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress without first informing the Obama administration, received an enthusiastic reception from an audience of 500 at an event Monday night in Skokie.

"Israel should never be afraid to speak up; Israel must speak up," he said, pointing to thousands of years of persecution of Jews before they had their own state as a haven, and to the country's fears that Iran, which he said "openly calls for and actively promotes the destruction of Israel," will obtain nuclear weapons.

Dermer said "no Jew speaks for all Jews," adding the laugh line "two Jews, three opinions," but argued that as the democratically elected leader of the 8 million Jews and Arabs who live in Israel, Netanyahu "does speak on behalf of the Jewish people."

The Obama administration is negotiating an agreement it says is the best bet for keeping Iran from having nuclear weapons. But Netanyahu believes the potential agreement won't provide long-term security. Israel doesn't have a seat at the negotiating table, and relations between President Barack Obama and Netanyahu are testy due to the diplomatic slight and statements the Israeli prime minister made during his recent re-election bid.

Dermer, a Miami Beach native who has worked as an Israeli newspaper columnist and key aid to Netanyahu, downplayed the long-term significance of the tension, saying the special relationship between the United States and Israel countries transcends disagreements.

"America and Israel are brought together by shared interests, shared valued and a shared destiny," he said, adding that each has "no better friend" than the other.

The event was staged to promote the sale of Israel Bonds, securities invested in projects in Israel. Despite the recent tensions in the U.S.-Israel relationship, and ones within the Jewish community itself over Netanyahu's actions, bond sales have been at record levels in the U.S. the last two years. With $300 million sold in the first quarter, the trend seems to be continuing, said James Galfund, a spokesman for Israeli Bonds.