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The ZOA urges an outspoken stance against appeasing Iran, recommending unqualified support for actions to halt its nuclear program.
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) issued a strong message on Tuesday condemning Jewish-American organizations that have pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel his “critically important speech” to a joint session of Congress next month in which he will address Iran’s nuclear aspirations.
Naming Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Abe Foxman, and J Street, ZOA President Morton Klein criticized these parties for their public opposition to Netanyahu’s appearance.
The ZOA also criticized the American Jewish Committee, AIPAC and others for “their deafening silence” on the topic.
“The Iran issue is a serious and frightening existential issue for the Jewish State of Israel, and Iran is also a major threat to the US. And there is no time to waste,” the ZOA asserted.
“Iran is getting closer to a nuclear weapon which they’ve repeatedly said they would use against Israel and America. Iran’s supreme leader Khomeini has said ‘Israel is on the verge of extinction,’ while the Iran Defense Ministry has said the US is the ‘great Satan and the number one enemy of Iran is the US.’”
Citing further threats by Iranian officials against Israel and the West, the ZOA points out that “all these proclamations continue to be made in the midst of these Iran P5+1 negotiations.”
“This is an existential issue for Israel that must be dealt with now – not in a year from now,” the ZOA announced.
‘Obama is Endangering America and Israel’
(Photo: shutterstock)
Invoking the lessons of the Holocaust, the ZOA declared: “We must never again be the Jews of appeasement and paralyzing fear…We must speak out with strength and pride. We must publicly state that President Obama is endangering America and Israel by his delaying on stopping Iran’s nuclear program.”
Iran is continuing to develop its nuclear and missile program unchecked and with full force, “yet President Obama dawdles and fiddles, and defends Iran while Iran’s nuclear program progresses to the finish line,” the ZOA warned.
“Why is President Obama more sympathetic to our enemy Iran than to our major ally, Israel and to the patriots in Congress?” the ZOA demanded.
“The United States Congress is discussing the Iran situation now. Prime Minister Netanyahu must speak now.”
The ZOA pleaded with its colleagues to support Netanyahu and all the politicians and leaders who are facilitating his address at Congress “to provide PM Netanyahu with this major forum to move us, to edify us, to inspire us to do more to stop this Nazi-like radical Islamic Republic of Iran from achieving weapons that could murder millions of Jews, Christians, Americans, Europeans and others.”
“By not supporting Israel’s Prime Minister and Congress, we are sending a terrible message to Iran that we are not unified and strong in our resolve against this deadly enemy,” the ZOA cautioned. “We dare not act like the Jewish leaders of the 1930s. The time to act to support the Prime Minister of Israel is now. It is a pro-America, pro-Israel patriotic act.”
Netanyahu Fulfilling His ‘Obligation to Speak Up’
PM Netanyahu addresses Congress. (Photo: Avi Ohayon/GPO)
Netanyahu has faced much political and diplomatic strife over his scheduled Congressional address, but he is still resolved to carry through with what he views as his sacred mission.
Netanyahu released a statement on Tuesday in which he said that “Israel’s survival is not a partisan issue, not in Israel nor in the United States.”
The Prime Minister conceded that the two governments disagree at times over various issues, which has been the case since Israel’s conception, but “none of these disagreements led to a rupture in the relationship between Israel and the United States. In fact, over time, our relationship grew stronger.”
Israel has “a profound disagreement” with the US and the rest of the P5+1 over their offer to Iran, an offer that “would enable Iran to threaten Israel’s survival,” as the deal enables Iran “to break out to a nuclear weapon in a short time.”
“This is not a personal disagreement between President Obama and me. I deeply appreciate all that he has done for Israel in many fields,” Netanyahu stressed.
“I am going to the United States not because I seek a confrontation with the President, but because I must fulfill my obligation to speak up on a matter that affects the very survival of my country.”
By: United with Israel Staff
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