Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful address Wednesday night at a reception for Jewish and Christian leaders at Blair House in Washington, attended by U.S. generals, senators and other dignitaries.

The prime minister thanked President Donald Trump for his historic preemptive actions against the Iranian nuclear threat, saying it was an existential threat to both countries.

“In great devastation, they would come with nuclear warheads. They would destroy your cities. They say, ‘Death to Israel.’ We’re simply in the way, but the real goal is death to America,” Netanyahu said.