Malcolm Hoenlein on Iran

Like Dalia Itzik on Sunday and Michael Oren on Monday, Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice president of the Council of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, highlighted the threat posed by Iran. He is a fiery speaker and he made his point forcefully. Iran, he said poses a threat not only to Israel - and the threat to Israel is undeniable and existential -- but to the region, and to the entire world. The real question, he said, is what this period, the most dangerous the world has faced since the end of World War II, most resembles. Was it 1932? 1939? 1942? How close is the threat? And what will we tell our grandchildren? That we fought back, or that we were too comfortable and in too much denial to bother?

In response to Hoenlein's speech, we urge people -- Zionists, Conservative Jews, and everyone else who lives in this world -- to make their views clear. Here is a letter from our social action and public policy committee leaders. Please read it and follow their suggestions.

Joanne Palmer

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Dear Biennial Convention Attendees,

Last night we were privileged to hear Malcolm Hoenlein,executive vice president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, speak about a pressing issue facing all of us, an issue that he said is the world's issue - the dangers of a nuclear Iran. As Iran continues to defy the United Nations' demands to halt work on its nuclear enrichment program, we were asked to mobilize as a community, contact our members of Congress, and urge them to support Iran sanctions legislation. We must prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Recent news of Iranian threats to end cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, is deeply troubling. (See articles here,here,and here.)

Congress has moved forward with several key pieces of Iran sanctions legislation. On October 28th, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee overwhelmingly approved the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (H.R. 2194). This bill authorizes President Obama to impose sanctions on any entity that provides Iran with refined petroleum resources or engages in activity that could contribute to Iran's ability to import such resources. To view the bill in its entirety, please click here.

On October 29, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs unanimously approved the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2009 (S. 2799). This bill is a combination of IRPSA (described above) and the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, which enables state divestment efforts from companies investing in Iran's energy sector. The bill also would also ban all imports from Iran, strengthen export controls to stop the diversion of sensitive technology to Iran through third countries, and mandate that the president file a report every six months on sanctionable activities.

Now that these bills have passed in committee, they must be brought to the floor in both the House and Senate for full votes.

It is critical that Congress pass legislation that authorizes sanctions specifically aimed at Iran’s nuclear and energy sectors. Iran imports up to 40 percent of its refined petroleum, including gasoline and diesel, and limiting the Iran’ access to such products would have a significant economic effect. The credible threat of such sanctions, combined with similar international efforts, would reinforce American diplomacy aimed at convincing Tehran to revise its nuclear policy.

There are actions you can take, and we strongly encourage you to take them.

Urge your representatives to support the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (H.R. 2194) and to encourage House leadership to bring this bill to the floor before the end of the year. You can find their contact information here.

Urge your senators to support the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2009 (S. 2799) and encourage Senate leadership to bring this bill to the floor before the end of the year. That contact information is available here.

We also urge you to get in touch with President Obama, who seems to be wavering in his support of the bill. You can send him email here.


We urge you to get in touch with your elected members of Congress and ask them to vote in favor of this important legislation.

Thank you for your help.

Dr. Jack Fein & Rabbi Leonard Gordon, Co-Chairs
Faye Gingold, Director
Public Policy & Social Action Committee
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism