This past week, the Action Fund was focused on confronting two seemingly
perennial enemies: the radical regime in Iran and the rising tide of
anti-Semitism. The global pandemic, it would appear, has not softened
the hearts of those who hate the Jewish people or the Jewish state.

Tehran Wants Cash

It should come as little surprise to even casual observers of the Middle
East that Iran is attempting to use the global pandemic as an excuse for
raising funds. Likewise, it should shock no one that among the voices
seeking to aid the Islamic Republic in this endeavor are none other than
Amb. Wendy Sherman, the lead negotiator for Pres. Obama's Iran nuclear
deal, and Chuck Hagel who served as President Obama's Secretary of
Defense (for a time) while the deal was being negotiated.

Last week, the Action Fund's Chairwoman, Sandra Parker, penned an
op-ed in the Washington Examiner

in which she explained the flawed thinking associated with relieving
sanctions on Iran as a result of COVID-19. Specifically, Parker reminded
readers that there already exist humanitarian carve-outs in the
sanctions regime and that the Iranian regime already stole $1 billion in
European aid intended to help fight the virus.

"The problem is not that Iran is short on cash to fight the pandemic.
The problem, at least from the regime's perspective, is that U.S.
sanctions are inhibiting the regime's ability to support terror,
advance its nuclear program, and oppress the Iranian people into
submission all at once. For the regime, which cares nothing for the
Iranian people, the COVID-19 pandemic is their big chance to cash in on
Western naivete," Parker wrote.

Tehran Wants Weapons

Iranian foreign policy is driven by the principles of the Islamic
Revolution. Tehran seeks to spread this revolution through violence and
mayhem. This is not a matter for debate. It is evident in the regime's
words and deeds; they're actually quite proud of it. So regardless if
one finds themselves in an eastern or western capital, we should at
least be able to agree on one thing: selling Iran weapons is bad for
everyone.  

Nonetheless, many world powers seem hardly concerned that in October the
UN arms embargo against the world's leading sponsor of terror will
expire. But the Action Fund is, and Congress is too.

We are extremely grateful to the overwhelming majority of House Members
who signed onto a letter to Secretary of State Pompeo "to urge
increased diplomatic action by the United States to renew the expiring
United Nations arms embargo against Iran and United Nations travel
restrictions on those Iranian individuals involved with dangerous
proliferation activities."

We in particular would like to thank Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman
Eliot Engel, Ranking Member Michael McCaul, Rep. Stephanie Murphy and
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick for their leadership on this issue.

Combatting Anti-Semitism

Last year, before the outbreak of COVID-19, we had already been seeing a
dramatic rise in anti-Semitic incidents. Since the pandemic, this
scourge is increasing at an even more rapid pace. Recognizing the need
to combat this evil, the CUFI Action Fund joined with a number of
pro-Israel organizations in supporting a letter from a bipartisan group
of senators calling upon the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate
Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations
and Related Programs to provide additional funds to the 2021 fiscal year
budget for the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat
Anti-Semitism.

According to the letter, "Providing additional funds in FY 2021 will
ensure the State Department has the resources needed to track and
respond to this growing scourge and that the United States remains a
leader in combating anti-Semitism internationally. Specifically, these
funds would support the Special Envoy's efforts to improve the safety
and security of at-risk Jewish communities, combat online
radicalization, ensure public officials and faith leaders condemn
anti-Semitic discourse, and strengthen judicial systems in their
prosecution of anti-Semitic incidents."

The CUFI Action Fund is committed to ensuring America's Christian
Zionists have a unified voice aimed at supporting the US-Israel
relationship, combatting anti-Semitism and confronting anti-Semites -
at home and abroad. If the issues we raised in today's and previous
emails concern you, one of the best ways to support our efforts is to
ensure your voice is heard. Though we will not be gathered in Washington
this year, we hope you can join the CUFI Virtual Summit, and participate
in the digital lobbying effort we are planning for June 30th.

Sincerely,CUFI Action Fund Team

PS The Senate is back in session this week, and we are thrilled to
report that the

**Never Again Education Act** now has 74 cosponsors. When the Senate
went out of session, we had just 56, and we are extremely grateful to
the CUFI members who contacted their senators to so dramatically
increase the level of support this bill has in the Senate.

In case you're interested, here are the senators not yet signed onto
the bill (if you'd like to give them a call, feel free!): Senators
Lamar Alexander (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Braun (R-IN), Richard
Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX),
Michael Enzi (R-WY), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Cindy
Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Inhofe (R-OK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy
(R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA),
Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike
Rounds (R-SD), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Tim Scott (R-SC), Richard Shelby
(R-AL), John Thune (R-SD), and Patrick Toomey (R-PA).

SUPPORT CUFI ACTION FUND
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