Washington (CNN) A new report that the National Security Agency spied on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is highlighting the Republican divide on civil liberties and national security.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the NSA maintained surveillance of Netanyahu and other U.S. allies, despite a promise from President Barack Obama two years ago that he would end the practice. The paper, citing current and former U.S. officials, also said that communications between members of Congress and Netanyahu may have been collected in the surveillance.

And House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, a California Republican, announced Wednesday his panel would seek more information from intelligence officials as it investigates the allegations.

"The Committee has requested additional information from the IC to determine which, if any, of these allegations are true, and whether the IC followed all applicable laws, rules, and procedures," Nunes said in a statement.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was one of the first 2016 candidates to use the report as opportunity to criticize what he sees as excessive surveillance from government, an issue he's championed throughout his Senate career.

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