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January 31,
2005
To: Officers, Rabbis, Key Contacts
From: Mark Bane, Chairman
Betty Ehrenberg, Director of International Communal Affairs
Re: Codification of U.S. Sanctions of Iran
U.S. and Israeli leaders have expressed great concern regarding
the Iranian development of unconventional weapons capabilities,
its support for international terrorism and its suppression of the
human rights of its own people. Of particular concern is the
Iranian program to develop nuclear capability and the failure of
Iran to adhere to the commitments it has made to international
organizations to disengage from these activities. Of equal concern
is the failure of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board
of Governors to report Iran’s violations to the UN Security
Council. Believing that appeasement will change Iranian behavior,
the IAEA board members, particularly our European partners, have
extended Iran’s lifeline and further reinforced the terrorist
regime, sending the message that it can continue its activities
without suffering any real consequences.
In response, Congress is seeking to hold the Iranian terrorist
regime accountable for its policies and activities that threaten
U.S. and global security. A bill has been introduced in the House
by Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FLA), Tom Lantos (D0CA),
Howard Berman (D-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH) called the Iran
Freedom Support Act, H.R.282. The Iran Freedom Support Act amends
the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) of 1996 by strengthening and
codifying U.S. sanctions imposed on the Iranian regime for its
sponsorship and support of international terrorism. It seeks to
eliminate investments in Iran’s petroleum industry and would
expand the parameters of the previous sanctions legislation. This
bill would also provide assistance to pro-democracy forces and
groups in Iran and would fund independent broadcasts to Iran.
Iran must cease its support for terrorism and its race to develop
nuclear weapons. The Iran Freedom Support Act will help pressure
the terrorist regime while supporting those engaged in fighting
for freedom and political liberalization.
Immediate Action Necessary
It is important that you urge your Representatives to support the
Iran Freedom Support Act, H.R.282. Please call the Representatives
at (202) 225-3121 and ask for the offices of your Representatives,
or write to them at:
Representative ______________
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington DC, 20515.
In your communications you may want to raise
the following points:
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Iran continues to be the world’s major sponsor
of international terrorist groups. It finances and other foster
groups such as Hezbollah, which continues to attack Israel from
training camps and other facilities in Syrian territory.
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Iran continues to develop nuclear and other
unconventional weaponry.
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American and Israeli experts predict that Iran
is likely to have the capability to produce uranium for military
purposes for the end of 2005 and may have enough technology by the
end of the year to independently produce military quantities of
uranium without help from other countries.
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It is very important to put pressure on the
government of Iran to cease its development of weaponry that is
threatening world peace and endangering not only Israel, but
European countries as well. The Iran Freedom Support Act will help
prevent the creation of an Iranian nuclear threat by strengthening
and enforcing international sanctions on Iran and supporting
pro-democracy activities in Iran.
Please help in the fight against global
terrorism by supporting H.R.282, The Iran Freedom Support Act.
Kindly feel free to contact us at 212-613-8124 if you need
additional information.
MB
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