Dear ,

This week, as the Action Fund Team continues our efforts to advance
policy through virtual interactions, we saw some positive developments
in the US-Israel relationship and even one coming out of Lebanon.
Unfortunately, as this crisis brings out the best in our communities and
our country, it seems to have brought out the worst in Tehran - despite
the Islamic Republic being ravaged by the pandemic spreading across the
world.

Lebanon
For months, the Action Fund has been focused on seeing US aid to the
Lebanese Armed Forces conditioned on Beirut extricating Hezbollah from
the Lebanese military. Many of you might be surprised to learn that even
as the policy of unconditional aid to Lebanon was being advocated by
elements inside the Departments of State and Defense, a US citizen, Amer
Fakhoury, was being held hostage in Lebanon by that government on
trumped up charges.

Finally, after Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led an
effort to threaten Beirut with sanctions, Fakhoury was released.

Shaheen, who represents Fakhoury's home state of New Hampshire said,
"Any time a U.S. citizen is wrongfully detained by a foreign
government, we must use every tool at our disposal to free them... No
family should have to go through what the Fakhoury family has gone
through."

The CUFI Action Fund is grateful to the Senators for their indefatigable
efforts to secure Fakhoury's release, but we will not forget that
Beirut did the right thing only after the threat of crippling sanctions
was leveled at the Hezbollah-backed government.

Iran
Also this week, Michael R. White, a US Navy veteran who is being held by
the government in Iran was provided a medical furlough. White has cancer
and is currently in Swiss custody in Tehran while he undergoes medical
evaluations. The US is calling for White's full release, as well as
the release of all other Americans being held by the Iranian regime
including Morad Tahbaz, former FBI agent Robert Levinson, Siamak
Namazee, and Baquer Namazee. The CUFI Action Fund will support any and
every effort to bring these Americans home.

Iran uses American prisoners as political pawns. They support terror and
are pursuing a nuclear weapon. Therefore it should come as no surprise
to learn that this week it was revealed that Iranian officials stole
more than $1 billion intended to help the Islamic Republic procure
much-needed medical supplies.

Perhaps this latest news will make clear to Iran's American would-be
appeasers that the regime in Tehran is evil and not to be trusted. You
can rest assured that the next time a CUFI Action Fund team member is
communicating with a senate office that has sought to undermine
President Trump's maximum pressure campaign, we'll bring up this
latest abomination.

Iran's actions should serve as a reminder that the enemies of the US
and Israel have not abandoned their radical imperialist agendas. They
have not joined the rest of the world in banding together to defeat this
global pandemic. Rather, Tehran sees everything through the eyes of
their Islamic Revolution.

That is why we welcomed the news this week that the Treasury Department
designated five companies in the United Arab Emirates who purchased
large amounts of petroleum products from the National Iranian Oil
Company. Iran's energy related industries are a major source of income
for the regime in Tehran. These funds are used to support the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force's malign activities throughout
the Middle East and the activities of Iranian proxy groups across the
region.

US-Israel Relationship

The CUFI Action Fund does not lobby in support of a strike against Iran;
rather, we hope and pray that the people of Iran will take their country
back from their evil rulers. However, given that our enemies will not
slow their malicious plans, America and Israel must continue to maintain
our military readiness. That is why we were pleased to learn that the US
and Israel are presently holding a joint aerial exercise using the
highly advanced F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

In order to maintain the safety and health of all troops, there is no
physical contact between the two armed forces. What is striking however
is that they are choosing to hold this critical exercise in spite of all
that is going on in the world. This is a reminder of the importance of
the US-Israel relationship and the threats for which our brave men and
women in uniform must be prepared to counter.

The CUFI Action Fund supports the close ties between the American and
Israeli armed forces and will continue to lobby for policies that enable
and enhance this vital military-to-military relationship.

Never Again Education Act

As regular readers of the Update know, we feel strongly that the fight
against anti-Semitism requires a two pronged attack. We must ensure the
protection of our Jewish brother and sisters and ensure the next
generation is inoculated against this hatred by delivering proper
historical education.

The

**Never Again Education Act** addresses the latter by providing schools
with funding to teach students about the Holocaust. It's that simple,
and we strongly support the bill's passage. That is why we were very
grateful to have seen a host of new cosponsors sign onto the bill since
the beginning of the month. New cosponsors thus far this month are
Senators Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren, Roger Wicker, Joe Manchin, Bernie
Sanders, Gary Peters, Sheldon Whitehouse, Dan Sullivan, and Dick Durbin.

We know this is a challenging time for all Americans. We are
exceptionally grateful that you would take a few moments to stay
informed about issues of importance to the US and Israel. We'll be
back next week with more up-to-date news about the matters that you care
about. In the meantime, stay safe, informed, and blessed.

Sincerely,
CUFI Action Fund Team

SUPPORT CUFI ACTION FUND
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