WASHINGTON -- Susan Rice, President Barack Obama's national security adviser, buttered up the thousands of American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference delegates here Monday evening with Hebrew phrases and warm anecdotes about her visits to Israel.
Then she brought on the tough talk, telling AIPAC delegates that their lobbying activities threaten to blow up ongoing negotiations to limit Iran's nuclear program.
"We cannot let an unachievable ideal stand in the way of a good deal," Rice said.
After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a controversial address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, AIPAC will ask members to support two pieces of legislation -- one triggering new Iran sanctions in the event a nuclear deal can't be reached, the other mandating congressional review if a deal is signed.
Delegates gave Rice a standing ovation when she said, "I know that some of you will be urging Congress to insist that Iran forego its domestic enrichment entirely." But she cut off the applause, saying that barring Iran from developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is not "a viable negotiating position."
"As desirable as that would be, it is neither realistic nor achievable," Rice said.
The crowd cheered again when Rice said, "I know some may argue that we must impose sanctions and walk away.
"But, my friends, let’s remember that sanctions, unfortunately, have never stopped Iran from advancing its program," she said.
"Here’s what’s likely to happen without a deal: Iran will install and operate advanced centrifuges," Rice continued. "It will rebuild its uranium stockpile and we will lose the unprecedented sanctions and transparency we have today."
Rice said last month that the process that brings Netanyahu to the U.S. this week -- House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) invited Netanyahu without notifying the White House -- had "injected a degree of partisanship" into a U.S.-Israel relationship that should transcend politics. She said she thought the process was "destructive to the fabric of the relationship."
Rice said on Monday that she thought Congress had "played a hugely important role" in helping to pass sanctions on the Iranian regime. "They shouldn’t play the spoiler now," Rice said.
Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, focused her address to AIPAC earlier Monday on the administration's efforts to defend Israel in the international community, with only a brief mention of the negotiations with Iran.
Rice, however, devoted a significant chunk of her speech to reassuring the AIPAC attendees that the U.S. still believed "a bad deal is worse than no deal" and wasn't negotiating for the sake of negotiating.
"We understand the unique concerns of our Israeli friends and partners," Rice said. "As President Obama has repeated many times, we are keeping all options on the table to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon."
Some political observers had speculated Rice would be booed at AIPAC. But the vitriol against her seemed to have eased after American Rabbi Shmuley Boteach placed an ad in The New York Times Saturday claiming Rice has a "soft spot" on genocide, citing her comments from more than two decades ago about the mass murders in Rwanda. The White House and a broad spectrum of Jewish groups, including AIPAC, immediately denounced the ad.
“Ad hominem attacks should have no place in our discourse," AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittmann said.
Rice has had to deliver tough love to Israel supporters before. Israelis and their allies were upset in 2013, when she attributed a faltering of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to continued Israeli settlement construction in areas Palestinians would want as a part of their would-be state.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
The Wartime Updates You Need To Know
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
HuffPost is dedicated to covering the devastating war between Hamas and Israel. We've broken news on the famine in Gaza, the State Department's turmoil, as well as what Hamas is thinking now — and we're far from done. HuffPost is committed to bringing you the critical updates you need to know. Would you consider contributing as little as $2 to support our reporting? Thank you for your support.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.