Someone had to say it.

Something had to be done. Even at the risk of alienating some who call you friend.

It was no fluke that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brought both houses of Congress to its feet on several occasions during his highly anticipated Tuesday address. He received more ovations than a U.S. President does during a State of the Union address.

Netanyahu was there to tell the world and its leaders that the current P5 + 1 negotiations with Iran over its nuclear future had to be reconsidered and that had to happen immediately.

“So you see my friends, this deal has two major concessions: one leaving Iran with a vast nuclear program, and two, lifting the restrictions on that program in about a decade,” Netanyahu told Congress. “That’s why this deal is so bad. It doesn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb, it paves Iran’s path to the bomb.”

People can have their opinion, even those persons who hold public office. We feel it disgraceful that some elected officials did not bother to attend, as if that was a way to show their alliance with their party or the President. At a time when the issue of a nuclear Iran is white hot, and whether you hold favor or disagree with the Israeli Prime Minister’s speech, all those elected to Congress needed to be there. At least have the strength to be part of the debate even if it is disagreement.

So now we wait to see what happens. Netanyahu certainly didn’t hurt his re-election chances with his thorough, frank speech. But the PM we believe saw a bigger picture than Election Day. This was all about an existential threat to Israel.

Sometimes it’s difficult to disagree with a close friend. Yet, something needed to be said.

In the special relationship shared by Israel and the U.S., we’ll see who was listening.