Netanyahu to Address American Jewish Groups Over Iran Deal
August 2, 2015Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will next week redouble efforts to scupper the international nuclear deal with Iran, making a personal appeal to Jewish groups across the United States.
Netanyahu, a strident opponent of the agreement, will make a web address Tuesday that will be available on computers, on mobile phones and in synagogues across America, according to organizers representing more than 100 Jewish groups.
The Israeli premier is also expected to take questions, in an address hosted by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the Jewish Federations of North America.
“The issues involved with the Iran nuclear agreement are complex and of great consequence to the North American Jewish population,” said Stephen Greenberg, chairman of the Presidents’ Conference.
“We welcome this unique opportunity to present the prime minister, who has helped bring these vital issues to public attention.”
PR war?
Netanyahu’s intervention comes amid a fierce battle with President Barack Obama over the agreement.
Netanyahu says the deal, which would curb Iran’s nuclear program in return for international sanctions relief, is a “stunning, historic mistake.”
Meanwhile, amid fervent opposition from the American people itself, Obama has deployed chief lieutenants to make the diplomatic, military and technical case for the deal, ahead of a crunch vote in Congress.
The White House hopes to garner enough votes to prevent the Republican controlled legislative branch from voting against the agreement.
A “no” vote would not automatically kill the deal, but it would force Obama to issue a veto and rally enough Democratic votes to uphold it.
That has prompted a ferocious battle for public opinion, including within the Jewish community.
Groups like right-leaning AIPAC and left-leaning J-Street have engaged in a multi-million-dollar public relations faceoff.
Meanwhile federations, individual organizations, Rabbis and Rabbinical assemblies are being pressed to take a stance.
Obama has tasked Secretary of State John Kerry with talking to the same groups organizing Netanyahu’s address, which incidentally comes on the president’s 54th birthday.
AFP contributed to this report.
Similar posts
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...
-
Women's Empowerment in Israel
December 15, 2023In recent decades, Israel has witnessed a remarkable evolution in the status and empowerment of wom...
-
Female Israeli Soldiers Who Defeated 100 Terrorists
December 6, 2023In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, the valiant all-female unit of the Israeli Defense Force...
-
Dear World: I Don't Care
November 2, 2023By Avi Lewis I don’t care that you sympathize with Hamas I know you wouldn’t tolerate any of ...