AIPAC update

Obama Calls Nuclear Iran 'Unacceptable'

Peres Urges Arab States to Join in Quest for Peace

Diplomats: Uranium Found at Suspected Syrian Site

Treasury Tightens Banking Sanctions on Iran

Israelis Protest Lack of Human Rights in Egypt

Solar Panels Light the Way for Israeli Power Company


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Obama Calls Nuclear Iran 'Unacceptable'President-elect Barack Obama last week called for an international effort to halt Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and slammed Tehran's support for international terrorist organizations, Reuters reported. "Iran's development of a nuclear weapon, I believe is unacceptable," Obama said at a news conference in Chicago. "Iran's support of terrorist organizations, I think is something that has to cease." Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed the comments on Monday and said it did not expect any major changes in U.S. policy towards the Islamic Republic. Iran faces further sanctions as a result of its continued defiance of U.N. Security Council demands that it halt its nuclear activity. Click here to learn about the importance of further sanctions against Iran.
Peres Urges Arab States to Join in Quest for PeaceSpeaking before an international gathering of religious leaders and heads of state at the United Nations, Israeli President Shimon Peres called upon the Arab world to join Israel in working for peace in the Middle East, the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported. Referring to the Arab peace initiative as "inspirational and promising—a serious opening for real progress," Peres assured his Arab counterparts, "We cannot change the past. However, we can shape our future...Peace is not just a goal. It is a promise made to us at the dawn of time and the pinnacle of the holiest mountain. Let's claim them together." Throughout its history, Israel has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to resolving the conflict with all of its neighbors. The Arab states and the Palestinians must match Israel's commitment by isolating Hamas, fighting terrorism and laying the groundwork for historic political compromise.
Diplomats: Uranium Found at Suspected Syrian SiteSamples taken from a suspected Syrian nuclear site destroyed last year contained traces of uranium and other suspicious elements, raising concerns that Syria had been carrying out covert nuclear work, the Associated Press reported. Diplomats said the uranium contamination was revealed in environmental samples taken from the site by U.N. inspectors during a visit in June. Syria has denied any secret nuclear activity, and has said it would not allow further visits to the site by U.N. inspectors under any circumstances. The site was destroyed, presumably by the Israelis, who believed that the reactor was close to becoming operational. The U.S. administration has called Syria's nuclear program "a threat to regional peace and security" and has warned that "we cannot allow the world's most dangerous regimes to acquire the world's most dangerous weapons."
Treasury Tightens Banking Sanctions on IranThe Treasury Department announced Thursday that it is revoking Iran's so-called "U-turn" license, a move barring financial institutions from routing money transfers through the United States on behalf of Iranian banks, Iran's government and others in that country, Reuters reported. "The Iranian regime's policies have ensured Iran's political, economic and financial isolation," said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey. "Iran is still faced with two clear paths: to continue as a financial pariah, isolated from the world, or to seize the benefit and opportunity that reintegration into the global community would bring. The choice is Iran's to make." The United States has taken a leading role in imposing sanctions on Iran in the face of Tehran's continued defiance of repeated U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding it stop enriching uranium—a key step toward developing nuclear weapons.
Israelis Protest Lack of Human Rights in EgyptIsraeli protesters gathered in front of the Egyptian embassy in Tel Aviv last week to decry the ongoing detention of Egyptian blogger Abdul Kareem Nabil, imprisoned two years ago for defaming the president and inciting hatred of Islam. The protest in Israel—which was one of many worldwide—was organized by David Keyes, coordinator for democracy programs under Natan Sharanksy at the Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies. "In the long term, democratic states are more peaceful and prosperous than autocratic ones," Keyes explained. "It is therefore a vital Israeli interest to support democracy throughout the Arab world. Tyranny only breeds radicalism, poverty and terror." Although the protest was not officially affiliated with the Adelson Institute, Sharansky released a statement in support of the rally, saying, "We strongly condemn Egypt's brazen assault on human liberty." Israel is the only Western-style democracy in the Middle East and is a country where the right to free speech is protected by law.
Solar Panels Light the Way for Israeli Power CompanyIsrael's Arava Power Company (APC) on Monday announced an agreement to use kibbutz land in the Arava region and the Negev Desert for solar power fields—a move that could potentially revolutionize Israel's energy market and put the country solidly on the path toward deriving its electricity from renewable sources, The Jerusalem Post reported. "The kibbutzim are already pioneers and solar [power] is the continuation of that pioneering spirit," APC President Yosef Abramowitz declared. "Europe is aiming for 20 percent of its energy from renewables and they have half the sunshine that we have. We should be at 40 percent." National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has set a goal of 20 percent renewable energy by 2020. The Jewish state has long been at the forefront of alternative energy technology.