IS the Headline in today's Jerusalem Post. However, a new, smaller jewish Lobbying organization is opposing this very same legislation.
The AIPAC annual conference starts next week
Some 6,500 American Israel Public Affairs Committee activists attending the organization's annual conference will be hitting Capitol Hill next week to stress the importance of the US-Israel relationship and push legislation imposing sanctions on Iran.
But the conference, which begins on Sunday, comes as the Obama administration is staking out different ground from Israel on Iran and the peace process - a divergence some Jewish activists critical of AIPAC have seized on. The climate poses challenges as AIPAC tries to push its lobbying agenda.
Jerusalem Post
The AIPAC annual policy conference is a major event, particularly so in US election years. This year should be interesting because there are new administrations in both Israel and the US, with the US communicating some degree of a break with the prior administration. The incoming Israeli administration is formulating its position on furthering the Peace Process, supposed to be released to coincide with the new Israeli PM's visit to Washington on May 18. The Obama administration has already signalled objection to home demolitions in East Jerusalem, settlement expansion in the West Bank, and has voiced support for the Arab Peace Plan, as well as expressing a more immediate deadline for establishment of a Palestinian state than Israel seems able to accept.
Iran's nuclear program remains a front burner issue, recently Israel has sought an "Iran First" strategy, whereby progress is first made on reducing the Iranian threat before any Palestinian status peace talks occur, which was rejected by the US admin, which is seeking a dialogue initiation with Iran. The US has signalled willingness for not opposing a peaceful Iranian nuclear program, in return for a rigorous IAEA inspection regime. Israel and the US right continue to insist on complete de-nuclearization of Iran.
Sens Kyl and Lieberman have introduced an AIPAC backed bill that would put sanctions on some of the companies who supply gasoline and other refined products to Iran, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act.
There is some belief in some quarters that additional threats will motivate Iran make concessions in negotiations. Others disagree.
Including
"It keeps the discussion going in the body politic about sanctions and corporate divestment as being something that's important on an advocacy level," said one Washington pro-Israel activist, describing the legislation as a reminder that "while the president's playing with his carrots there are a lot of people who think the sticks are important too."
The activist added that it was important that the legislation be introduced this week even if it isn't acted on soon because "6,000-plus people are
going to come to Washington next week and they need something to talk about that's Iran-related."
JPOST
J Street, a pro Israel, Pro Peacce Lobby is opposing the legislation saying that it undermines President Obama's regional Peace strategy:
The battle lines are emerging clearly around President Obama's Middle East agenda. The President intends to achieve a negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his first term and to address the challenges Iran poses through diplomacy.
His opponents, meanwhile, are trying to rally Congress to thwart his agenda. With one hand they're opposing the President's proposed approach to working with a possible Palestinian unity government; with the other, they are proposing aggressive new sanctions on Iran just as diplomatic outreach begins.
So AIPAC and JStreet are taking opposite sides of this issue, will J Street have any influence?
"You're comparing an ant to an elephant."
One Washington Jewish organizational leader not affiliated with either camp agreed with Amitay that J Street was no match for AIPAC.
"AIPAC, in terms of money and influence, clearly overwhelms J Street," he said, "but it's pretty interesting to see them [decide] to directly take
on AIPAC on a legislative issue."
He predicted that "there's no question the majority of members of Congress are going to vote the way AIPAC wants them to," if for no other reason than that sanctioning Iran is a popular cause among Americans generally.
"They [J Street] are not going to win, but they're building their voice and building their credibility," he said. "Next time, there'll be more people listening to them."
Senate Co-Sponsors
The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act was introduced by Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Kit Bond (R-MO), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Richard Burr (R-NC), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), James Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), James Risch (R-ID), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), John Thune (R-SD), David Vitter (R-LA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR
).
Israel's President is coming to town this week, perhaps there will be signs of common vision going forward