Key Israel Lobby Groups Back Off Attacks on Iran Deal

AIPAC Director Urges Focus on Sanctions Instead

The P5+1 interim deal with Iran was loudly condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but more concerning within the Israeli lobby than the pact itself was their inability, despite loud condemnations and predictions of war, to prevent its signing.

Still, the lobbying factions can’t shake their fists in impotent rage forever, and AIPAC Director Howard Kohr urged activists not to “directly” confront the administration on the interim deal, but instead focus on imposing new sanctions on Iran, which would effectively kill it, and imposing harsher terms on any final deal.

This mirrors the Netanyahu government’s own strategy, with a deployment of “advisers” to DC to try to “shape” the final deal into something more to Israel’s liking, and something Iran is certain to reject.

ADL leader Abe Foxman apparently didn’t get the note about not confronting, as while he pushed for new sanctions he angrily condemned the Obama Administration for opposing the sanctions, and went on to accuse the US of a “violation of the special relationship with Israel” by even talking to Iran.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.