This week, the leaders of the Iranian-backed terrorist groups Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) met in Lebanon to coordinate operations against the Jewish state.
This meeting came just days after Iran’s foreign minister personally met with each of these terror leaders.
Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, flanked by senior leaders of Hamas and PIJ.
Collectively, Hezbollah, Hamas and PIJ receive nearly $1 billion each year from Iran.
As Iranian oil sales surge, these terrorist groups are likely to get increased support from the regime — strengthening their abilities to attack Israel.
Iran is now selling roughly $150 million worth of oil per day, a five-year high, providing the regime with a significant cash infusion. Most of these sales are to China in violation of U.S. sanctions.
America must increase the pressure on Iran through strict sanctions enforcement, including targeting those in China that process Iranian oil.
As the threats facing the Jewish state continue to mount, we must redouble our own efforts to ensure America always stands with our ally Israel.
Thank you for your continued dedication to this important mission.
Please see below additional stories we have been monitoring throughout the week.
Congressional Black Caucus Members Visit Israel, Rwanda
Over the past week, ten members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) traveled to Israel on a trip sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, the charitable organization affiliated with AIPAC.
After visiting Israel, the group traveled to Rwanda to gain a deeper of the understanding of the trilateral relationship between the United States, Israel and Rwanda.
Pictured first, CBC members with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Second, CBC members with opposition MK Benny Gantz.
Palestinian President Abbas Spreads Dangerous Lies
This week, PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who has a long history of Holocaust denial and distortion, said in a speech: "They say that Hitler killed the Jews for being Jews, and that Europe hated the Jews because they were Jews. No. It was clearly explained that they fought them because of their social role and not their religion."
The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. condemned Abbas' "hateful rhetoric," labeling it "antisemitic."
Several members of Congress also spoke out, including Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), who said, "I strongly condemn Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' dangerous lies and antisemitic rhetoric. These offensive comments are not only wrong and contribute to Holocaust distortion, but they also incite violence and undermine the prospects for peace."
Abbas’ dangerous lies and distortions of history make peace impossible. Abbas should join other Arab leaders in building bridges and conditioning an environment for peace instead of poisoning his society with anti-Israel hate, incitement and violence.
Israel Officially Opens Embassy in Bahrain
On Monday, Israel officially opened its embassy in Bahrain three years after the two countries normalized relations as part of the historic Abraham Accords.
The ceremony was attended by Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, who said the opening of the embassy "signifies our shared commitment to security and prosperity for all the peoples of our region."
New IAEA Report on Iran's Nuclear Program
Iran is continuing to increase its uranium enrichment and block inspectors, according to a new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran is capable of producing enough highly enriched uranium for a nuclear bomb in under two weeks, and up to five bombs worth in three months.
The report also reveals that Iran is continuing to deny visas to IAEA inspectors and is preventing them from monitoring key sites.
The wave of Palestinian terrorism in Israel continued this week when two people were wounded, including one seriously, in a terror stabbing attack in Jerusalem on Wednesday afternoon.
And the IDF thwarted an attempt to smuggle pounds of explosives from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Monday.
As Palestinian leaders fail to stop the violence, Israel is forced to take action to protect its citizens. On Monday, Israeli forces entered Jenin to apprehend three Hamas terrorists; on Wednesday morning, they again entered Jenin to arrest another terrorist involved in a series of shooting attacks against Israelis in recent months.
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