AIPAC's analysis of current issues, policy and legislation.
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July 21, 2011
The Syrian regime continues to brutally crush the growing protest movement within the country. Simultaneously, Damascus is maintaining its links with terrorists and stonewalling international efforts to investigate its illicit nuclear program. The United States should enforce additional sanctions under the Syria Accountability Act to pressure the Assad regime to cease its destructive behavior at home and abroad.
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July 20, 2011
As international sanctions are beginning to stifle the Iranian economy, Tehran has stepped up its destructive behavior. Refusing to accept the will of the international community, Iran is dangerously escalating its illicit nuclear program by announcing that it is installing advanced centrifuges. At the same time, U.S. military officials say Tehran has increased its aid to Iraqi insurgents and the Taliban, who are carrying out deadly attacks on U.S. forces with Iranian-supplied long-range rockets. The United States must respond forcefully to these provocations with tougher sanctions to demonstrate to Iran that its continued defiance will result in severe consequences.
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July 20, 2011
In defiance of the United States, the Palestinians are moving ahead with statehood efforts at the United Nations while refusing to negotiate with Israel. This gambit could severely damage U.S. peace efforts and future Israeli-Palestinian relations. The United States must continue to strongly oppose harmful Palestinian efforts at the United Nations and urge the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table.
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May 05, 2011
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to formally ink a reconciliation agreement with the U.S.-designated terrorist group Hamas is likely to severely undermine U.S. peace efforts. The unity deal does not require Hamas to change its positions, which include openly seeking Israel's destruction and carrying out attacks on innocent Israeli civilians. As leading members of Congress have urged, the United States should suspend aid to the PA unless it becomes clear that a new government will meet international expectations that it renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept the commitments made by prior PA governments.
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May 02, 2011
The Islamist terrorist group Hamas today condemned the United States for killing Osama bin Laden, saluting the terrorist mastermind as a "holy warrior" and expressing hope that God will have mercy upon him. "If the news is true, then we consider it a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and bloodshed against Arabs and Muslims," Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh told reporters in Gaza. He added: "We condemn any killing of a holy warrior or of a Muslim and Arab person and we ask God to bestow his mercy upon him."
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April 07, 2011
Justice Richard Goldstone has retracted the central claims of his controversial report that falsely accused Israel of targeting civilians during its Cast Lead military campaign in December 2008 and January 2009. The Goldstone Report claimed that Israel committed war crimes in Gaza as it targeted the Hamas terrorist organization. Goldstone's stunning reversal, in an April 2 Washington Post op-ed, also affirmed a key distinction between Israel and Hamas that the original report ignored: Whereas Hamas' rocket attacks deliberately and indiscriminately sought to murder civilians, Israel's campaign tirelessly strove to protect innocent life. America should lead efforts to press the U.N. Human Rights Council and General Assembly to repudiate the report and end all follow-up actions related to it.
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March 25, 2011
Israeli naval forces last week intercepted 50 tons of Iranian arms headed for Hamas and other Iranian-backed terrorist groups in Gaza. Terrorists in the coastal region have launched more than 140 mortars and rockets into Israel since January, and more than 80 since Sunday. This weapons-smuggling incident highlights Iran's ongoing violations of repeated U.N. Security Council resolutions. The United States should impose sanctions on companies that facilitate Iran's weapons dealing, which undermines peace efforts and is destabilizing the region.
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March 24, 2011
The March 23 Jerusalem bombing attack marks a key escalation in efforts by Palestinian terrorists, including those backed by Hamas and Iran, to increase violence against Israelis and undermine the chance for peace talks. Since the beginning of 2011, terrorists have launched more than 130 mortars and rockets at Israeli civilian targets and murdered five members of a sleeping family in the West Bank. Last week, Israeli naval forces intercepted 50 tons of Iranian arms destined for Hamas in Gaza, highlighting the need for increased measures to prevent Iran from arming its proxies. Israel remains committed to peace talks, but may be forced to take strong measures to defend its citizens against the mounting scourge of terrorism.
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March 24, 2011
The March 23 Jerusalem bombing attack marks a key escalation in efforts by Palestinian terrorists, including those backed by Hamas and Iran, to increase violence against Israelis and undermine the chance for peace talks. Since the beginning of 2011, terrorists have launched more than 130 mortars and rockets at Israeli civilian targets and murdered five members of a sleeping family in the West Bank. Last week, Israeli naval forces intercepted 50 tons of Iranian arms destined for Hamas in Gaza, highlighting the need for increased measures to prevent Iran from arming its proxies. Israel remains committed to peace talks, but may be forced to take strong measures to defend its citizens against the mounting scourge of terrorism.
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March 09, 2011
The Lebanese parliament has selected the Hizballah-backed, pro-Syrian Najib Mikati as Lebanon's prime minister. Hizballah forced the collapse of the previous government for refusing to denounce the U.N. Special Tribunal investigating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination. With Hizballah's handpicked candidate now in the lead, the terrorist group may dominate the new government.The United States should carefully reevaluate the wisdom of continued assistance to Lebanon at this delicate moment.
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March 09, 2011
The United States faces extraordinary challenges to its preeminence in today's world. Our nation faces threats to its security and economic well-being. American military leaders repeatedly warn that we cannot meet these challenges through costly military force alone. U.S. leadership in the world today also depends on a robust foreign aid program that supports key allies like Israel and helps preserve America's safety, security and prosperity.
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March 09, 2011
The Iranian regime continues to oppress its people and defy international demands that Tehran cease uranium enrichment. A new International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report warns that Iran could be on the brink of a major advance in its uranium enrichment efforts. Despite the turmoil elsewhere in the region, the United States must not lose its focus on Iran. Now is the time to impose increasingly severe sanctions on Iran to persuade Tehran to end its destructive nuclear policies and human rights abuses.
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March 09, 2011
The Lebanese parliament has selected the Hizballah-backed, pro-Syrian Najib Mikati as Lebanon's prime minister. Hizballah forced the collapse of the previous government for refusing to denounce the U.N. Special Tribunal investigating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination. With Hizballah's handpicked candidate now in the lead, the terrorist group may dominate the new government.The United States should carefully reevaluate the wisdom of continued assistance to Lebanon at this delicate moment.
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March 09, 2011
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have stalled because Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to meet with Israeli leaders since September 2010. Instead, Abbas has traveled the world seeking recognition of a Palestinian state and sought to isolate Israel. Abbas' circumventions will bring neither peace nor a Palestinian state; direct talks are needed for that. America should continue its long-standing support for negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and oppose harmful unilateral efforts.