New Jersey Jewish News
Commentary 02.16.06

We watch with troubled interest while Russia prepares for talks with the Hamas leaders who are to control the newly elected Palestinian parliament. However, you may have missed the news that diplomatic talks are at a standstill between Russia and the Iranian government. In an apparent protest, Tehran has postponed talks that were scheduled for this week because Russia, in this instance, joined the world community in supporting the International Atomic Energy Agency’s referral of Iran to the United Nations Security Council.

Why? Because Iran, whose president has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, is now moving his country ever closer to acquiring nuclear weapons and achieving the capacity to actually carry out this heinous threat.

On Feb. 4, the IAEA board of governors passed a resolution, citing the many failures of Iran to comply with nuclear nonproliferation safeguards — including furtive and aggressive attempts to enrich uranium — and asserting “the absence of confidence that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes.” Instead of confidence-building measures, Iran’s recent actions and statements are indeed making us incredibly uncomfortable — perhaps even downright fearful — that the world will not contain this actor before the remaining window of opportunity has elapsed. Once acquired, such knowledge cannot be unlearned.

We examine Iran’s thinly disguised nuclear threat with the blatant and bellicose threats by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Jewish people. Ahmadinejad pronounced that anyone who recognizes Israel will “burn in the fire of the Islamic nation’s fury….” He has been vociferous in denying the Holocaust, and nonetheless challenges Europeans, if they choose to believe the “myth” of the Holocaust, to repent by creating a “Jewish nation” on their soil.

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Danny Ayalon, said recently that Iran is the biggest threat facing the world since World War II. Fortunately, Israel is not alone in this dire assessment.

How do we respond?

As a start, on Feb. 7 the Community Relations Committee of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey opened a community education campaign on Iran, by jointly sponsoring a community program with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and Temple B’nai Abraham, “The Point of No Return: Iran’s Nuclear Ambition and What it Means to Israel.” The nearly 400 attendees heard from Benjamin Krasna, deputy consul general of Israel in New York, and Brad Gordon, AIPAC’s director of policy and government affairs, who contextualized how we arrived at this moment of concern.

Krasna articulated that the threat from Iran is undeniable when examining these basic criteria: the intent, the weapons capability or the pursuit thereof, the development of delivery systems, and a strong link to terror — all of which apply to Iran.

According to Gordon: “Iran with a nuclear weapon is a global threat that goes beyond Israel and the Middle East. The international community must undertake a comprehensive and sustained effort to ensure that this dangerous regime is not permitted to develop the world’s deadliest weapons.”

Gordon added, “It is absolutely critical that the international community, through the United Nations Security Council, impose economic and diplomatic sanctions that will compel Iran to comply with its obligations.” He articulated that sanctions, if imposed, will be felt in Tehran. Despite its wealth of oil, Iran has a fragile economy, which sanctions can impact.

The CRC welcomes those who are prepared to help lead the community on this and other core issues in the Jewish community. Our strength lies in being organized and in our community partnerships. Join us in making a difference.

What can you do to confront the threat from Iran?

First, advocate on these and related issues affecting Israel’s well-being:

• Send letters to President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice thanking them for their leadership in having the Iran matter referred to the UN Security Council.
• Write to your senators and representatives urging them to cosponsor the Iran Freedom and Support Act. The act would permanently extend penalties on companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector and urge divestment from those firms, with the goal of cutting off funds which could be used to assemble atomic arms. Thank those who have already done so.

Second, educate yourself further:

• Make a commitment to participate in local forums and consider attending the AIPAC policy conference March 5-7 in Washington.
• Contact the Community Relations Committee to receive Action Alerts and/or join the MetroWest Israel Advocacy Commission.

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