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Dear A.,
Two new reports highlight the serious threats posed by Iran and its terrorist proxies.
First, Axios
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reported today that Israel’s strike against Iran in late October destroyed an active top-secret nuclear weapons research facility in Parchin. The site used sophisticated equipment to design and test plastic explosives for detonating a nuclear bomb.
In the months before the Israeli strike, "there was concern across the board" about Iran’s nuclear activities at that site, according to a U.S. official. "They conducted scientific activity that could lay the ground for the production of a nuclear weapon. It was a top-secret thing. A small part of the Iranian government knew about this, but most of the Iranian government didn't."
Second, Axios also
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reported on remarks this week from the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer on the threat posed by the Houthis — the Iranian terrorist proxy in Yemen whose official slogan is "God is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse the Jews, Victory to Islam."
"I'm an engineer and a physicist, and I've been around missiles my whole career," U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante said. "What I've seen of what the Houthis have done in the last six months is something that — I'm just shocked."
He added bluntly that “[the Houthis] are getting scary,” noting that their missiles "can do things that are just amazing."
LaPlante’s comments came two days after a highly sophisticated Houthi attack against two American Navy ships that included at least three anti-ship cruise missiles, five anti-ship ballistic missiles, and eight suicide drones. That same day the Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Israel, sparking fires near Jerusalem.
Yet as Iran and its proxies continue to threaten American troops and our ally, Senator Bernie Sanders announced that he would force votes in the Senate next week to block critical arms sales to Israel.
Weakening Israel’s security as it’s engaged in a seven-front war against common enemies is dangerous for America and the Jewish state.
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Click here to email your senators to reject this latest anti-Israel effort being spearheaded by Bernie Sanders. After you take action, ask your friends and family to visit
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www.aipac.org/act to contact their senators as well.
Below my signature are a compilation of key stories from this week and social posts you can share.
Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media throughout the weekend for the latest updates.
Shabbat Shalom,
Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications
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Hezbollah Attacks on Israel Continue
Hezbollah
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continued to launch hundreds of rocket, missile and drone attacks into Israel this week.
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On Tuesday, a Hezbollah drone struck a kindergarten in the Haifa suburb of Nesher. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the incident as the staff was able to was able to rush the children to a bomb shelter just in time.
Hours later, two residents of Nahariya in northern Israel were killed by a Hezbollah rocket explosion.
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The two victims, Ziv Belfer and Shimon Najm, were both in their 50’s. Two young men at Kibbutz Kabri were also injured in the attack.
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The IDF intercepted additional rockets in northern Israel, the Western Galilee, and Central Israel throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the IDF continued to degrade Hezbollah capabilities, capturing large stockpiles of Hezbollah weapons in southern Lebanon.
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IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi stated, “We are striking deep [in Lebanon] and we are striking a lot in Syria and on the Syria-Lebanon border, so that weapons do not reach Hezbollah.”The United States must continue to ensure Israel has the resources and support needed to defend its people and deter its enemies.
Israel Surges Aid to Gaza, in Compliance with U.S. Law
The Biden administration declared this week that Israel is in compliance with American law, and reaffirmed that Israel is facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday: “Of the 15 steps that we urged action on, Israel has taken action either in implementing or being in the process of implementing 12 of the 15 steps… I would note though as well that it's extraordinary to me that as from almost day one there is no focus on Hamas and almost deafening silence around the world on Hamas.”
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State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday that the Biden administration has “not made an assessment that the Israelis are in violation of U.S. law.”Since October 7, 2023, and over the past month, Israel taken extensive efforts to surge humanitarian aid to Gaza, even as Hamas attempts to divert the aid, launch attacks on Israeli forces, and continues to hold 101 Israelis and Americans hostage.
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Over the past month, Israel has facilitated the entry of more than 46,000 tons of aid into Gaza in more than 2,200 trucks. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has facilitated the entry of more than 1.121 million tons of aid into Gaza in nearly 60,000 trucks, in addition to almost 10,000 pallets of aid delivered via air drops.While Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian aid, the United States must focus its efforts on increasing the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Iran, Qatar, and Turkey to immediately release all the hostages.
Any daylight between the U.S. and Israel undermines our ally’s security and makes it more difficult to secure the release of the hostages.
AIPAC Congratulates New Senate and House Leadership
AIPAC congratulates incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the new Senate Republican leadership team.
Sen. Thune has been a pro-Israel champion throughout his time in Congress, and we look forward to working with him to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance.
We also congratulate Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and the new and returning House Republican leadership team. Speaker Johnson has been a champion of the U.S.-Israel relationship and we look forward to working with him to build and strengthen the relationship.
Other notable headlines
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Trump and Biden discuss hostage deal during first meeting
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NATO chief warns of threat from Russian ties with China, Iran, North Korea
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Lawmakers condemn Turkey after Erdoğan says he will cut ties with Israel
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Israel asks ICC to probe possible bias of new judge on arrest warrant panel
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PIJ Releases New Sign-Of-Life Video Of Hostage Alexander Troufanov
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Iran activist kills himself after demanding release of prisoners
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Rep. Ritchie Torres on his pro-Israel progressive values: "I am pro-Israel not despite my progressive values, but because of my progressive values. It is progressive to defend Israel's right to defend itself."
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Bernie Sanders wants America to abandon Israel. Urge your Senators to reject his dangerous resolutions then share this graphic and urge your friends to take action.
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While millions of Israelis are under attack from Hezbollah, Senators are working to block U.S. support for Israel. Tell your Senators to reject their dangerous resolutions and stand with our ally, then urge your friends to take action.
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Hezbollah bombed a kindergarten in Haifa — Israel’s third-largest city. For over 400 days, Iran’s terror army has bombard Israeli cities and towns with indiscriminate rocket and drone attacks.
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Support our work to keep Israel safe.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
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