John Kerry tried to defuse the ongoing row over Benjamin Netanyahu 's forthcoming speech to Congress - despite fears it will affect negotiations with Iran over their nuclear program . The Secretary of State said he did not want the Israeli 's Prime Minister 's forthcoming address to a joint session of Congress to become 'some great political football ' . Netanyahu 's speech , organized by John Boehner , the Republican House Speaker , was set up without the blessing of the Obama administration - and comes as the White House tries to strike a deal over Iran 's nuclear ambitions . Scroll down for video . Play ball : Secretary of State John Kerry , right , tried to stop a feud over Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu ( left ) escalating in an interview Sunday . On his way : Netanyahu is pictured above with his wife Sarah , leaving Tel Aviv for the address to Congress on Tuesday . It is feared that such a public show of closeness to Israel , a firm foe of Iran , could dash Obama 's hopes in the negotiations , in which he hopes to curb the nuclear program in exchange for easing economic sanctions . Kerry played up U.S.-Israeli unity in an interview on Sunday for ABC 's This Week show , insisting 'the prime minister of Israel is welcome to speak in the United States , obviously . 'And we have a closer relationship with Israel right now in terms of security than at any time in history . ' There is , however , a clear different in policy between Netanyahu and the White House - with the Israeli leader expected to urge Congress to stop Iran 's nuclear ambitions by keeping up the current sanctions regime . Congress wants to keep the sanctions regime strong , but the President has said he would veto any new penalties to preserve the negotiations . Kerry reiterated Washington 's determination to pursue negotiations with Iran , saying the White House deserved 'the benefit of the doubt ' to see if a nuclear deal could be reached . By accepting an invitation from the Republican party to . address Congress on Tuesday , the Israeli leader infuriated the . Obama administration , which said it was not told of the speech . before plans were made public in an apparent breach of protocol . Solemn : Netanyahu has claimed his visit is above the political , and says he is standing up for all Jews by visiting Washington . He is pictured above praying at Jerusalem 's Western Wall . But both sides have tried to downplay the rift . In remarks on Saturday at Jersualem 's Western Wall , . Netanyahu said : ' I would like to take this opportunity to say . that I respect U.S. President Barack Obama . ' He added that he . believed in the strong bilateral ties and said , 'that strength . will prevail over differences of opinion , those in the past and . those yet to come . ' Netanyahu did not repeat those remarks as he departed on . Sunday . The Israeli prime minister , who is running for . re-election in a March 17 ballot , has framed his visit as being . above politics and he portrayed himself as being a guardian for . all Jews . ' I 'm going to Washington on a fateful , even historic , . mission , ' he said as he boarded his plane in Tel Aviv . ' I feel . that I am an emissary of all Israel 's citizens , even those who . do not agree with me , and of the entire Jewish people , ' he told . reporters . Not popular : Anti-Israeli demonstrator are pictured above protesting in D.C. ahead of Netanyahu 's address . Netanyahu is expected to use his speech to urge Congress to . approve new sanctions against Iran despite Obama 's pledge to . veto such legislation because it would jeopardize nuclear talks . U.S. officials fear he is seeking to sabotage the Iran . diplomacy , and critics have suggested his visit is an elaborate . election stunt that will play well with voters back home . While White House and Israeli officials insist that key . areas of cooperation , from counter-terrorism to intelligence to . cyber security , will remain unaffected , the divide over the Iran . talks has shaped up as the worst in decades . Previously Israel has always been careful to navigate . between the Republican and Democratic camps . The planned . address , however , has driven a rare wedge between Netanyahu 's . government and some congressional Democrats . Some two dozen or . more of them plan to boycott the speech , according to unofficial . estimates . Iran itself has weighed in on the speech as well . Speaking in Tehran on Saturday , Iranian Foreign Minister . Mohammad Javad Zarif accused Netanyahu of trying to undermine . the nuclear talks in order to distract from the Palestinians ' unresolved bid for an independent state . 'Netanyahu is opposed to any sort of solution , ' Zarif said . Meanwhile a U.S. official , speaking on condition of anonymity , . said the 'politicized ' nature of his visit threatened 'what . undergirds the strength of the relationship ' . As one former U.S. official put it : 'Sure , when Netanyahu . calls the White House , Obama will answer . But how fast will he . be about responding ( to a crisis ) ? '
Secretary of State tried to downplay rift over Israeli prime minister 's speech . He will address joint session of parliament on Tuesday after GOP talks . White officials said the speech was organized without their blessing . turkey said it violated tank negotiations with turkey . But Kerry has emphasized U.S.-Israeli unity in attempt to make up .