Panetta denies discussing Iran attack plans during meeting with Barak

July 31, 2012 1 Comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Jerusalem, July 31, 2012

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Jerusalem, July 31, 2012

Washington, July 31 - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak Tuesday night in Jerusalem after denying reports that the two were discussing Iran “attack plans.”

“I think it’s the wrong characterization to say we are going to be discussing potential attack plans,” Panetta told reporters during a press conference in Cairo before departing for Israel. “What we are discussing are various contingencies and how we would respond.”

When reporters asked Panetta if these potential plans include military options, he said the discussions would be “more about what is the threat that we’re confronting” in Iran’s nuclear program and sharing intelligence information.

Panetta said the two also would speak about the Iron Dome. In the last decade, Israelis in the north and south have suffered bombardments by Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. In response, Israel developed the Iron Dome system in 2007 to defend against short-range rocket and artillery attacks. The system integrates vertically launched interceptor missiles with a mobile control center as well as an advanced radar component.

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80 percent of Americans see Iran as threat to U.S. and its allies

July 31, 2012 1 Comment

By Alan Elsner, Editor-in-Chief

Washington, July 31 – Four out of five American likely voters see Iran’s nuclear weapons program as a threat to the United States and its NATO allies, according to a new poll commissioned by The Israel Project (TIP).

The poll of 800 likely voters in the upcoming U.S. presidential election found that 39 percent considered the Iranian nuclear weapons program a very big threat and 41 percent thought it was a moderate threat to the United States and the nations of NATO. Only 12 percent said it was not much of a threat and six percent said it was no threat at all.

The poll, conducted by polling firm Public Opinion Strategies July 18-19, carried a statistical margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.

Eighty percent of likely voters believe Iran is building nuclear weapons, despite the Tehran government’s constant denials. Only 10 percent thought it was not. Moreover, there was a high level of consensus across party lines on this, with 72 percent of Democrats, 81 percent of Independents and 89 percent of Republicans convinced the Iranians were building nuclear weapons.

Sixty percent say Iran’s nuclear program poses a very big threat to Israel and another 27 percent say the program is a moderate threat. Iranian leaders have frequently vowed to wipe Israel off the map.

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U.S., Israel unified in stopping Iranian nuclear capability

July 30, 2012 2 Comments

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Editor

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta visits Israel Oct. 3, 2011

Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta visits Israel Oct. 3, 2011

Washington, July 30 – On Tuesday – a day after Mitt Romney’s visit to Israel – U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will be visiting the country to discuss new ways to cooperate between the United States and Israel.

Speaking to reporters on a plane to Tunisia Sunday, Panetta said the U.S. and Israel are unified in their position on preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

The goal of his meetings is to strengthen ties between the two countries “so that we can be fully prepared to deal with any contingency that may happen,” he said.

Panetta said the U.S. respects Israel’s “sovereignty and their ability to make decisions with regard to their own security.”

And both countries, he said, support tough international sanctions against Iran as opposed to military measures.

“My view is that they have not made any decisions with regards to Iran, and they continue to support the international effort to bring pressure against Iran to pull back from their efforts to develop their nuclear capability,” he said.

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Romney takes tough stance on Iran, praises Israel’s right to defend itself

July 29, 2012 9 Comments

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat introduces Mitt Romney in Jerusalem, July 29, 2012 - Photo by Elizabeth Levy

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat introduces Mitt Romney in Jerusalem, July 29, 2012 – Photo by Elizabeth Levy

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, July 29 – Calling Iran “the most destabilizing nation in the world,” former Gov. Mitt Romney said the United States should lead the effort to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons while praising Israel’s right to defend itself.

“It is Iran that is the leading state sponsor of terrorism and the most destabilizing nation in the world,” the presumptive Republican presidential candidate told an overwhelmingly friendly crowd of 200 in Jerusalem Sunday evening.

“We should employ any and all measures to dissuade the Iranian regime from its nuclear course, and it is our fervent hope that diplomatic and economic measures will do so. In the final analysis, of course, no option should be excluded. We recognize Israel’s right to defend itself, and that it is right for America to stand with you.”

 

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Romney visits Western Wall on Tisha B’Av

July 29, 2012 1 Comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Mitt Romney putting a prayer into the Western Wall July 29, 2012 - Photo by Bonney Kapp

Mitt Romney putting a prayer into the Western Wall July 29, 2012 – Photo tweeted by CBS News’ Bonney Kapp

Washington, July 29 – Though widely expected, U.S. presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney made an unscheduled visit to the Western Wall Sunday afternoon during prayers marking Tisha B’Av.

Romney arrived in Israel Saturday evening, the beginning of Tisha B’Av, an annual Jewish fast day that commemorates the destruction of both the First Temple and Second Temple in Jerusalem, which occurred on the same Hebrew calendar date. The day, which has been called the saddest day in Jewish history, also commemorates other Jewish tragedies that occurred on this day, most notably the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.

Romney was joined by his wife Ann, son Josh, a large number of aides and  and several top donors. Approximately 20 donors have traveled to Jerusalem for a fundraiser Monday morning at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.

The group was shown a diagram of the second Temple, of which the wall is the only remnant.  The destruction of the Second Temple by Roman forces nearly 2000 years ago is one of the events mourned on this day, contributing to big crowds gathered there today.

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Romney’s meeting with Netanyahu spotlights regional issues

July 29, 2012 3 Comments

Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting at the Prime Minister's office on July 29, 2012

Mitt Romney and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting at the Prime Minister’s office on July 29, 2012

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, July 29 – Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was briefed Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of a day of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

“You’ve been a personal friend of mine and a strong friend of the state of Israel,” Netanyahu said as he welcomed Romney to his office. The two leaders have known each other for decades since the two men worked at Boston Consulting Group together.

“In this great convulsion, there is one stable, democratic ally of the United States here in the Middle East, and that’s Israel,” Netanyahu said. “That’s why I think that strengthening the relationship between America and Israel is in the interest of peace, in the interest of both our countries, and I believe that your visit is an expression of that desire on both of our peoples.”

“We have a relationship between our nations which spans many years and, at the same time, is one based not just on mutual interest, but also on shared values,” Romney replied. “Like Israel, we share a commitment to democracy, to freedom of speech, to freedom of association, to the preservation of human rights;  and these common values and common principles have caused our nations to draw closer over the years.”

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Obama signs U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act at the White House

July 27, 2012 3 Comments

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

President Obama after signing the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act July 27, 2012 - Photo by Natasha Mozgovaya

President Obama after signing the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, July 27, 2012 – Photo by Natasha Mozgovaya

Washington, July 27 – President Obama reaffirmed support for Israel’s security as he signed the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act today at the White House.

“I hope that, as I sign this bill, once again everybody understands how committed all of us are – Republicans and Democrats – as Americans, to our friends, in making sure that Israel is safe and secure,” Obama said.

This act, which passed Congress with broad bipartisan support on July 17, expands military and intelligence cooperation with Israel.

The president also discussed the July 18 terror attack on a bus carrying Israeli tourists in Burgas, Bulgaria that killed five Israelis and a Bulgarian on board.

“The tragic events that we saw in Bulgaria emphasize the degree to which this continues to be a challenge not just for Israel but for the entire world – preventing terrorist attacks and making sure that the people of Israel are not targeted,” he said.

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Bipartisan moment of silence for Munich victims

July 27, 2012 Leave a comment

Members of Congress hold a moment of silence for the Munich 11 on July 26, 2012

Members of Congress hold a moment of silence for the Munich 11 on July 26, 2012

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, July 27 – Fifteen  members of Congress representing both parties held a minute of silence Thursday to honor the 11 Israelis killed during the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre and called on the International Olympic Committee to remember these victims of Palestinian terrorism during tonight’s Opening Ceremony of the London games.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a simple message to the IOC: “Do the right thing.”

“For 40 years, the IOC has refused to hold a moment of silence at the Olympic Opening Ceremonies in memory of the 11 Israeli Olympians – including an American citizen, David Mark Berger – murdered by violent extremists at the 1972 Olympics in Munich,” she said.

“We know why the IOC has refused: Because the murdered Olympians were Israelis, and the IOC does not want to draw the ire of foreign governments who still object to the very existence of a Jewish state in the homeland of the Jewish people.”

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Obama to sign U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act

July 26, 2012 1 Comment

By Lauren Appelbaum, Political Director

Washington, July 26 – A day before Romney is set to arrive in Israel, Obama will be signing the U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act. This act, which passed Congress with broad bipartisan support on July 17, expands military and intelligence cooperation with Israel.

Obama will seek to stress his commitment to Israel’s security for American Jewish voters at a White House ceremony Friday. American Jewish leaders and congressional members from both parties have been invited to the signing ceremony.

Ha’aretz reports that an Israeli official said the White House deliberately timed the ceremony for the same weekend Romney visits Israel.

The Act means the U.S. government will increase joint military exercises with the Israel Defense Forces, provide Israel more aid in developing defense systems against rockets and provide Israel with advanced weaponry.

“The bill deepens our security cooperation with Israel by expanding our military assistance and providing Israel with access to additional equipment,” White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said on Thursday.

The new bill also extends U.S. funding for placing emergency American arms caches in Israeli warehouses in case of war. In addition, the law states the U.S. will assist Israel to prepare in security terms for the U.S. pullout from Iraq.

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Obama extends sanctions on Hezbollah supporters

July 26, 2012 Leave a comment

By Dena Weiss, TIP Fellow

President Obama addressing AIPAC in March2012

President Obama addressing AIPAC in March 2012

Washington, July 26 – President Obama extended existing sanctions for another year against groups considered threats to Lebanon’s fragile stability, for the first time including a direct reference to Hezbollah and its supporters.

The extension, announced Wednesday in an official notice from the White House, formally declares a state of emergency and calls for “measures blocking the property of certain persons undermining the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes.”

The Executive Order was initially declared by President George W. Bush on Aug. 1, 2007, and has been renewed every year since its inception.

Though the original document released by President Bush outlines the actions and goods it wishes to block, no direct reference was made to a specific actor. President Obama’s renewal, however, specifically mentions the “continuing arms transfers to Hizballah (sic)” and the threats the group poses to Lebanese sovereignty, U.S. national security and foreign relations. Hezbollah receives training, weapons and money from Iran and Syria.

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