We hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and while many of us were
enjoying time with friends and family, over the past few days there have
been a number of developments that merit discussion. So, without any
further delay, let's dive in.

**Congress is Back**

The August Congressional recess is coming to a close which means
Congress is going back to work, and there are already items on the
legislative agenda that we're focused on. First, during the week of
September 12th, we expect the Senate to bring forward the annual State,
Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. As our
Summit attendees are well aware, this legislation includes the annual
American military assistance to Israel.

The House version of the legislation also includes key restrictions
targeting UNRWA, prohibiting funds to UN Commission of Inquiry unfairly
targeting Israel, and no funds for the Palestinian Authority including
continued restrictions on how taxpayer money can be redirected to ensure
that U.S. dollars are not being spent to fund the evil pay-to-slay
policy.

Unfortunately, the Senate does not include all these protections.
We'll be working over the coming months to push the House version and
minimize the amount of American taxpayer dollars that indirectly (at a
minimum) support Palestinian terrorism.

The other two bills from our Summit legislative agenda, the federal
anti-BDS bill known as the CHAI Act, and the Iran sanctions bill known
as the SHIP Act, are also very much in play. Since the CUFI Summit, more
than 150 cosponsors have been added to the SHIP Act. Likewise, during
the August recess, we worked diligently to build on the momentum in
support of the CHAI Act coming from the CUFI Summit, by engaging partner
organizations and having discussions with Hill staff - resulting in
major organizations coming out in support of the legislation and a new
tranche of Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle signing on as
cosponsors.

**Pres. Biden Nominates Jack Lew as Ambassador to Israel**

President Biden has nominated Jack Lew to serve as the U.S. Ambassador
to Israel. While some have reported that a nominee to be Ambassador to
Israel would not receive a vote before the upcoming US presidential
election, we will be doing our due diligence in the weeks to come. Lew
previously served as Secretary of the Treasury and Chief of Staff, under
the Obama administration and at the Office of Management and Budget in
the Clinton administration. As such, Lew defended the Obama
administration's position on things like the now-defunct Iran deal.

If he is confirmed, what we can expect from Lew is perhaps exemplified
in his position on moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. He's quoted
as explaining the position of successive U.S. administrations that not
moving the Embassy would "preserve the possibility of having a
negotiated agreement that will produce ultimately someday a just and
lasting peace with two states, [which] is the higher value." Lew and
much of the foreign policy establishment of course were wrong. Not only
was there no qualitative change in relations with the Palestinians, but
Israel was able to make historic agreements with Arab nations via the
Abraham Accords.

And let's not forget, either way, the next Ambassador to Israel will
be doing their work from an Embassy inside Israel's eternal and
undivided capital of Jerusalem - the significance of which we hope
every future Ambassador to Israel can appreciate.

**Iran, Again**

There was a bit of debate around the office this week as to whether or
not we should highlight the latest on Iran's malign activities. There
are, after all, other topics we could get into; for example, the spike
in Palestinian terror last week which left one Israeli dead and a dozen
innocents wounded. But we've discussed in recent weeks Jerusalem's
efforts to contend with this increase in violence, and at this point,
there is no additional policy analysis required. The Israelis will do
what they have to do, and we will support them.  

What does require a bit of a deeper dive is the current situation with
Iran. Recently the International Atomic Energy Agency released a report
whose primary conclusion the press is characterized as Iran having
slowed its production of enriched uranium. While that's true, engaging
in less of the same criminal behavior is not a victory for those opposed
to Iran's malign activities. Such would be like telling a murderer we
should be proud of him/her for killing fewer people over the summer than
they did in the spring.

The reason the press can get away with spinning this report in the
manner described is twofold: First, many in the international community
are content with simply containing Iran rather than stopping it.
Newsflash: That won't work (just ask Neville Chamberlain).

Second, the Biden administration cannot bring themselves to honestly
assess and learn from the failed Obama-era Iran deal. If they did
approach such an assessment honestly and rationally (rather than
emotionally and politically), Team Biden would be compelled to conclude
that aggressive sanctions, not perpetual negotiations culminating in
acquiescence, is the only non-military solution to the Iran problem. 

Washington needs to do better. We need to advance the SHIP Act without
delay and thereby deliver a significant body blow to the Iran's cash
flow. And with your help, that's exactly what we're going to ensure
Congress does.

Sincerely,

The CUFI Action Fund Team

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