The Jerusalem Post comments on the opposition the speech, and points out that a single speech outlining Israel’s concerns ahead of an imminent deal between the P5+1 and Iran “can hardly be expected to ‘destroy’ relations between two countries with so many common interests and values.” The editor believes that the fact that Netanyahu and Obama have differences of opinion over the Iranian threat “should not prevent Netanyahu from articulating what he believes to be Israel's interests,” and adds: “There are strong emotions and political motivations on both sides of the argument.” 

Yediot Aharonot wonders whether it is really worth quarrelling with the US president over a meaningless speech, and asks: “Is there anyone in Washington, in Tehran or even in Jerusalem who believes that thanks to [PM Netanyahu’s] eloquence and verbal acrobatics, and upon hearing the alarming figures about nuclear threshold Iran, the president of the world's greatest power and the Congress members – both Democrats and Republicans – will suffer an anxiety attack and shut themselves up in a nuclear shelter, filled with great fear?” 

Yisrael Hayom believes that the speech is Netanyahu’s “last-ditch attempt to convince U.S. legislators and the American public not to be fooled by Iran's fraudulent tricks.” Noting the arguments against the speech in Israel, the author argues: “But now, when our prime minister is in the U.S. and about to give a pivotal speech that will be heard worldwide, it is time to take a break, stop the bickering and show both Israel's friends and enemies that there is no power on earth that can shatter the fateful bond that ties the Jewish people together,” and calls on all Jews to “pray together for the success of our prime minister's mission, as our lives depend on it.”

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Haaretz criticizes the government for not doing away with the archaic television licensing fee, despite a promise to eliminate the fee made a year ago former Communications Minister Gilad Erdan, and states that while he is now interior minister, the authority for handling the reform at the broadcasting authority remains in his hands and therefore “It would be proper for him to address the public and explain the delay in fulfilling his promises. It would also be proper for the current acting communication minister, [Prime Minister] Netanyahu, to speak rather than hide behind a temporary delay in the required license fee payment.”   

Globes op-ed was not available today.