For most, the jury is still out
Jewish organizations and others were busy last week issuing statements on a nuclear agreement reached between Iran and six world powers (the P5+1). Most urged a close study of the document before voting “good deal” or “bad deal” Here is a sampling:
ADL
We are deeply disappointed by the terms of the final deal with Iran which seem to fall far short of the president’s objective of preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear weapon state. The thrust of the deal relies substantially on Iran’s good faith and the ability of the IAEA to effectively carry out its inspection obligations.
AIPAC
During these negotiations, we outlined five critical requirements for a good deal: Inspectors must be permitted unimpeded access to suspect sites; Iran must fully explain its prior weaponization efforts; sanctions relief must commence only after Iran complies with its commitments; Iran’s nuclear weapons quest must be blocked for decades; and Iran must dismantle its nuclear infrastructure so it has no path to a nuclear weapon. We are deeply concerned based on initial reports that this proposed agreement may not meet these requirements and thereby would fail to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon and would further entrench and empower the leading state sponsor of terror.
AJC
The nuclear deal concluded in Vienna does not appear to address other extremely troubling aspects of Iranian behavior. AJC remains deeply concerned about Iran’s ICBM program, which cannot be explained except for ominous military purposes; its repeated calls, including in recent days, for the annihilation of Israel and “death to America”; its direct involvement in terrorism and support for terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah; its hegemonic ambitions in the region, from Lebanon to Syria, from Iraq to Yemen; and its systematic repression of human rights, as amply documented in the most recent State Department report on human rights around the world.
Americans for Peace Now
We urge American Jewish organizations that have launched campaigns against this Iran deal to cease and desist. American Jewish organizations can play an important role in identifying and amplifying legitimate Israeli concerns related to this deal and can work with the administration and Congress to find avenues for further U.S.-Israel assistance, cooperation and coordination in order to address these concerns.
Hadassah
We remain acutely concerned that the proposed agreement will fail to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Hadassah urges Congress and the White House to take all necessary actions to ensure that Iran can never acquire nuclear weapons capability.
Jewish Federations of North America
President Barack Obama and his administration have repeatedly said that any deal with Iran must shut down Iran’s uranium enrichment pathway to a weapon, cut off all four of Iran’s potential pathways to a bomb and track Iran’s nuclear activities with unprecedented transparency and robust inspections throughout its nuclear supply chain. We agree. We urge Congress to give this accord its utmost scrutiny.
Jewish Voice for Peace
This opportunity for the diplomatic process to succeed in avoiding war with Iran is too important to discard over partisan politics. This is a strong deal, and we urge our elected leaders to vote in favor of the agreement when it comes before Congress.
J Street
J Street welcomes news of the agreement struck by the United States and its international partners with Iran to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The deal is complex and multifaceted, and it will take some time to analyze all its features. However, from what we have seen so far and what we have learned from President Barack Obama and the negotiators, this agreement appears to accurately reflect the parameters set forth in the April 2 framework.
It also appears to meet the critical criteria around which a consensus of U.S. and international nonproliferation experts has formed for a deal that verifiably blocks each of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon.
It will be important for Congress to carefully review this agreement on its merits and at the same time be mindful of the likely consequences of its rejection: a collapse of diplomacy and international sanctions, as Iran pushes forward with a nuclear program unimpeded.
National Jewish Democratic Council
While many have quickly jumped to conclusions on whether the announced agreement with Iran is a “good deal” or a “bad deal,” we call on all organizations and members of Congress to take partisan politics completely out of this situation. We call on the entire community to take the necessary time to read and review the details of the agreement. The pro-Israel cause is hurt when the world’s only Jewish state is, once again, used as a partisan wedge issue.
Reform Movement Leadership
As the U.S. Congress, other world leaders and the American public, including the Jewish community, evaluate the details of the proposed agreement, we recognize that thoughtful people can and do hold strongly different opinions as to whether this agreement is the best obtainable result in securing our shared goals and upholding the ideal that solutions should be found through the negotiating process rather than a military confrontation.
StandWithUs
While StandWithUs welcomes international efforts to end Iran’s nuclear program through diplomacy, the details emerging about the agreement reached between the P5+1 and Iran raise serious concerns. It appears the deal will not prevent Iran’s regime from developing nuclear weapons, moderate its aggressive policies or persuade it to stop sponsoring terrorism. Rather it only delays its pursuit of nuclear weapons and allows it to continue promoting violence and instability around the world. We hope that Congress, which has 60 days to review the agreement after it is submitted by the administration, will ensure that the deal protects the United States and our allies and prevents nuclear proliferation in the region.
Zionist Organization of America
The deal paves the way to provide nuclear weapons to [Iranian leader Ali] Khamenei, the Hitler of the Mideast, and hundreds of billions of dollars to Iran, the Nazi Germany of the Mideast, enabling them to fund, arm and increase Islamic terrorism throughout the world. Even if they fulfill every aspect of this, it allows Iran to attain nuclear status in 10 to 15 years.
— Compiled by Washington Jewish Week
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