Obama: Invitation to Netanyahu after Iranian Deal

JERUSALEM, Israel -- U.S. President Barack Obama plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House after Israel's new government is formed and the international powers have secured a permanent deal with the Iranians.

The president invited American Jewish leaders to the White House last week to assure them the Iranian deal is good for Israel.

In that spirit, Vice President Joe Biden delivered a comprehensive speech at an Israeli Independence Day celebration in Washington Thursday touching on the administration's points of contention with Israel, from the illusive two-state solution to the Iranian deal.

Biden said it's "only natural for two democracies like ours" to disagree sometimes and when the president says "he has Israel's back," he means it.

"We're like family," Biden said. "We have a lot to say to one another. Sometimes we drive each other crazy, but we love each other -- and we protect each other."

The commitment to Israel's security, he said, "is personal."

"My commitment to protect Israel's security is personal," he said. "It's personal for me and it's personal for the president."

Like Obama, Biden said finalizing the framework deal with Iran is the best way to ensure Israel's security, noting the U.S. reserves the right to walk away if Iran refuses to make significant concessions. And the military option remains on the table, he said.

Biden also said the 2010 agreement with Israel to purchase F-35 jet fighters would see fruition in 2016.

"Next year we will deliver to Israel the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, our finest, making Israel the only country in the Middle East to have this fifth-generation aircraft."

Israel's Ambassador to Washington Ron Dermer told AP the intense security situation throughout the Middle East would cause the two allies to work together.

"We have weathered all those disagreements to grow closer and closer, decade after decade," Dermer said.