AIPAC Legislation and Policy News May 2009
U.S. Sanctions Africa-Based Hizballah Supporters
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
The Treasury Department on May 27 targeted two Africa-based supporters of the terrorist group Hizballah by freezing their U.S. assets and prohibiting all financial transactions with them. The Treasury action targets Kassim Tajideen, who contributed tens of millions of dollars to Hizballah, and Abd Al Menhem Qubaysi, personal representative of Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. "We will continue to take steps to protect the financial system from the threat posed by Hizballah and those who support it," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey.
May 26, 2009 10:35 AM
Biden: Aid to Lebanon Hinges on Elections Outcome
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
Vice President Joe Biden on May 22 said future U.S. aid to Lebanon will depend on the outcome of the upcoming Lebanese elections, the Associated Press reported. The June 7 vote features the terrorist group Hizballah in open competition with the moderates led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and parliamentarian Saad Hariri, son of the assassinated former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. “The election of leaders committed to the rule of law and economic reform opens the door to lasting growth and prosperity as it will here in Lebanon,” Biden said.
May 21, 2009 3:47 PM
Military Chief: Iran: ian Bomb Would Be ‘Calamitous’
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff on May 21 said that Iran: ’s attainment of a nuclear weapons capability would be “calamitous,”?Reuters reported. “I'm one who believes that Iran: getting a nuclear weapon is calamitous for the region and for the world,” said Adm. Michael Mullen in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “It then, in my view, generates neighbors who feel exposed, deficient and then develop or buy the capability themselves. The downside, potentially, is absolutely disastrous.”
May 21, 2009 12:28 PM
Clinton: Iran: ian Nuclear Bomb an ‘Extraordinary Threat’
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on May 20 said the United States opposes Iran: ’s quest for a nuclear weapons capability, which would pose an “extraordinary threat” to America, the Associated Press reported. In testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Clinton warned that an Iran: ian nuclear bomb “is going to spark an arms race in the Middle East,” which in turn would undermine Iran: ian security.
May 20, 2009 10:29 AM
76 Senators Urge Obama to Adhere to Peace Principles
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
Seventy-six members of the Senate on May 19 sent a letter to President Obama supporting U.S. efforts to help Israel achieve peace with all its neighbors and urging the president to adhere to the principles that have successfully led to peace treaties between Israel and both Egypt and Jordan. These key principles include supporting direct, bilateral negotiations between the parties, remaining both a trusted mediator between the parties and a devoted friend to Israel, and insisting on an absolute Palestinian commitment to end incitement and violence against Israel.
May 20, 2009 10:29 AM
U.S., Israel Forming Working Group on Iran:
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
The United States and Israel are forming a high-level working group to assess the two allies' progress in halting Iran: 's illicit nuclear program,?The Washington Times reported. The plan to form the group was formulated during President Obama's meeting on May 18?with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which focused on Iran: 's nuclear program as well as Israeli-Arab peace prospects. In a press conference after their meeting, both Obama and Netanyahu said they recognized the gravity of the Iran: ian threat and would continue to work together to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran: .
May 15, 2009 10:30 AM
U.S. Official Says Iran: Dominant Issue in Region
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
The acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs on Thursday said that Iran: , not the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is now the predominant issue of concern in the Middle East, The Washington Times reported. “When you travel around the [Middle East] five, six, seven years ago, almost everywhere you went, the first thing that came up was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Jeffrey Feltman said in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “When you travel around today, what you are going to hear about is Iran: .”
May 15, 2009 10:30 AM
House Approves $555 Million in Security Aid for Israel
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
The House on Thursday approved $555 million in security aid to Israel as part of an emergency supplemental spending bill to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other key national security efforts. The aid will fund a portion of President Obama's request of $2.775 billion in security assistance for Israel in fiscal year 2010 as called for by a 2007 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. The remaining $2.22 billion of the request is expected to be funded in the fiscal year 2010 foreign aid bill.
May 11, 2009 12:01 PM
U.S. Extends Sanctions on Syria
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
President Obama on Friday issued a?statement indicating that his administration would extend sanctions on Syria first imposed by President Bush in 2004. In extending the sanctions, Obama stated that Syria's actions "in supporting terrorism, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining U.S. and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States."
May 8, 2009 10:47 AM
House Committee Backs Israel Aid
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
The House Appropriations Committee on?May 7?approved $555 million in security aid to Israel as part of an emergency spending bill to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other key national security efforts. The aid will fund a portion of President Obama's request of $2.775 billion in security assistance for Israel in fiscal year 2010 as called for by a 2007 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. The remaining $2.22 billion of the request is expected to be funded in the fiscal year 2010 foreign aid bill.
May 8, 2009 10:47 AM
Senate Hearing: Time Running Out to Stop Iran:
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
The New York district attorney who investigated Iran: 's illicit financial maneuvers said that little time remains to stop Iran: 's nuclear program, CNN.com reported. "It is late in this game and we don't have a lot of time to stop Iran: from developing long-range missiles and nuclear weapons," said Robert Morgenthau in testimony on May 6 before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He added, "The Iran: ians are deadly serious about proceeding with this program and. it is later than a lot of people think."
May 6, 2009 10:40 AM
House Congratulates Israel on 61st Anniversary
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
The House on May 4 unanimously passed a?resolution that congratulates the State of Israel on its 61st anniversary. The resolution (H. Con. Res. 11), introduced by Reps. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and Shelley Berkley (D-NV), passed by a vote of 394-0, and now moves to the Senate for its consideration. The resolution "commends the bipartisan commitment of all United States administrations and United States Congresses since 1948 to stand by Israel and work for its security and well-being."
May 1, 2009 9:50 AM
Clinton: No U.S. Funds to Hamas
from AIPAC Legislation and Policy News
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on April 30 said the United States will not provide funds to any Palestinian government that includes Hamas members who do not accept the three internationally backed principles of recognizing Israel, reject terrorism and accepting previous agreements. "There is no possibility of funding Hamas," Clinton said in testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee.