aipac summary

www.aipac.org August 19, 2008
U.S. Radar to Help Israel Maintain Qualitative Military Edge

Iran Seeks to Build More Nuclear Plants

Palestinian Terrorists Build Rockets Despite Gaza Calm

Monitoring Group Condemns UNIFIL, Hizballah

IMF: Sanctions Hurting Iranian Economy

Israeli Olympian Still in Contention for Medal


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U.S. Radar to Help Israel Maintain Qualitative Military EdgeIn a sign of its strong commitment to Israel's security, the United States will soon link the Jewish state to an advanced missile detection system. The powerful radar, known as the X-Band, will be deployed by early 2009 and will be operated by staff from the U.S. European Command. Reps. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Jane Harman (D-CA) played a critical role in ensuring that Israel was given access to the X-Band. Last May, the two lawmakers spearheaded a letter to President Bush that called on him to share the system with Israel. For decades, the United States and Israel have maintained a deep strategic and military relationship aimed at confronting the threats to both nations.
Iran Seeks to Build More Nuclear PlantsAs Iran presses ahead with its illicit atomic work, the Islamic Republic has signed new contracts for preliminary work on new nuclear power plants, the Iranian Students' News Agency reported. Six companies have been elected out of 62 applicants in a bid among foreign companies, according to Ahmad Fayazbakhsh, the director of production of atomic energy at Iran's nuclear agency. With Russia's help, Iran is already building its first nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr, which many experts fear could one day be used to extract weapons grade plutonium. Iran has rebuffed multiple U.N. Security Council demands that it end its efforts to enrich uranium and faces more stringent sanctions as a result of its non-compliance.
Palestinian Terrorists Build Rockets Despite Gaza CalmThe Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) terrorist organization recently showed off what it said was a new rocket that is capable of striking the major Israeli population centers of Ashkelon and Ashdod—more than 16 miles away from Gaza, CNN reported. Israeli officials expressed serious concern at the weapons on display. "If the [Egyptian-mediated] cease-fire is just a front for extremists in Gaza to rearm and regroup, of course we have the right to act," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said. "Any arms buildup is a direct violation of the calm that was achieved." Since the calm went into effect, Palestinian terrorists have fired more than two dozen rockets at the Jewish state. Click here to learn more about the threat from the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
Monitoring Group Condemns UNIFIL, HizballahAn independent monitoring group in Lebanon has strongly criticized the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), calling its members "hostages of Hizballah," The Jerusalem Post reported. Toni Nissi, the general coordinator of the monitoring group, said Resolution 1701 "calls for the...disarmament of the militias, and calls for sealing the border between Lebanon and Syria and forbidding the entering of arms and weapons via the border, especially to Hizballah. So Hizbullah is violating 1701 big time, and not only by hiding its weapons in warehouses in the south." Nissi added: "Also, we haven't seen any weapons coming out of the south after the war of 2006, so did Hizballah throw its weapons used in the 2006 war into the sea?" In addition, Nissi criticized the U.N. force for "coordinating with Hizballah and not with the Lebanese government."
IMF: Sanctions Hurting Iranian EconomyThe International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday said that stepped-up international pressure and sanctions over Iran's refusal to halt its illicit nuclear activities are hurting the country's economy, making trade financing and payments difficult and discouraging foreign investment, Reuters reported. U.S. and U.N. economic sanctions have had a major impact on state-owned banks, and many of the world's top financial institutions have severed ties with the Islamic Republic, limiting the regime's access to foreign capital and restricting trade, the IMF report stated. International sanctions have also taken a toll on Iran's energy sector, leading several major oil companies to withhold investments in the country's oil and natural gas sectors. Click here to learn about international efforts to isolate Iran.
Israeli Olympian Still in Contention for MedalIsraeli windsurfer Shahar Tzuberi on Tuesday continued his fantastic performance at the Olympics in Beijing, finishing a race in fourth place in the tenth overall race of the competition, The Jerusalem Post reported. Despite the good result, 22-year-old Tzuberi is still fourth overall. His last chance to improve his position and win the first Israeli medal at the Beijing games will take place on Wednesday. Tzuberi is just one of the dozens of athletes on the Israeli Olympic team. From swimming and fencing to judo and tennis, Israeli athletes have competed in a wide array of sports in the XXIX Olympiad