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Dear A.,
This week, Congress passed over $4 billion in U.S.-Israel security funding — the largest-ever annual appropriations package for U.S.-Israel security programs.
I encourage you to watch the video below breaking down all that was included.
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The United States and Iran held indirect
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negotiations in Oman today , yielding no meaningful progress, according to reports.
Although both sides agreed to meet again in the coming days, the Iranian regime refuses to end its nuclear enrichment program, limit its ballistic missile arsenal, or end its support for terrorism across the region.
Today, the United States issued
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new sanctions targeting the regime, furthering the administration's maximum pressure campaign.
The new sanctions target 15 entities, two individuals, and 14 shadow fleet vessels, all of whom are connected to Iran's illicit oil trade.
"So long as [the] Iranian regime attempts to evade sanctions and generate oil and petrochemical revenues to fund such oppressive behavior and support terrorist activities and proxies, the United States will act to hold both the Iranian regime and its partners accountable,"
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the State Department said.
Meanwhile, the
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Abraham Lincoln
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carrier group continues to make its way towards Iran.
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According to a former Iranian government official, who also served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the regime's security forces had been
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preparing for a large-scale crackdown on protesters since 2022.
The plan was "systematically implemented," he said, adding that during training, officers go through "ideological theoretical training and psychological preparation to kill, including firing final shots at protesters."
Leaked documents confirm that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave the
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security forces the authority to kill "as many people as necessary in order to stay in power."
Testifying before Congress yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that maximum pressure has created a dollar shortage in Iran, sending its economy into freefall.
"We have seen the Iranian leadership wiring money out of the country like crazy," Bessent
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said . "The rats are leaving the ship, and that is a good sign that they know the end may be near."
Update on NJ-11 special Democratic primary
Last night was the New Jersey-11 special Democratic primary to fill an open House seat for the remainder of 2026. With 29 percent of the vote share, anti-Israel candidate Analilia Mejia is likely to win the race.
While this is not the outcome we hoped for, her prospective win was an anticipated possibility. Our ultimate focus for this race remains the June primary that will likely determine who represents this district for the full term beginning in January 2027.
Hamas continues to violate Gaza peace deal
Last night, in northern Gaza,
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terrorists fired shots at IDF troops operating on the Israeli side of the Yellow Line, a blatant violation of the ceasefire deal.
In response, the IDF struck Hamas infrastructure in the Strip, after warning civilians to evacuate the area.
Meanwhile, President Trump yesterday reiterated that Hamas must disarm, as they agreed to do under the terms of the Gaza peace plan.
"Some people say they won’t, but they will, and if they don’t, they’re gonna not be around any longer," Trump
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said .
For Phase 2 of the Gaza peace plan to succeed, and for a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike, Hamas must disarm.
Lebanese Army chief refuses to call Hezbollah terrorists
Yesterday, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
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abruptly ended his meeting with the head of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, after the general refused to refer to Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
Graham
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said he asked Haykal "point blank" if Hezbollah was a terrorist group, to which the LAF leader said, "No, not in the context of Lebanon." And following the answer, Graham ended the meeting.
In his statement, Graham said: "Hezbollah has American blood on its hands. Just ask the U.S. Marines. They have been designated as a foreign terrorist organization... since 1997 – for good reason. As long as this attitude exists from the Lebanese Armed Forces, I don’t think we have a reliable partner in them."
The United States must continue to increase the pressure on Lebanon to fulfill its stated commitment to fully disarm Hezbollah.
Below are links to share AIPAC social media content from the week. We'll continue to provide the latest updates on
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our social media channels .
Shabbat Shalom,
Jake Braunstein
Senior Director, Policy Communications
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This week, U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone acting aggressively toward the USS Lincoln and blocked IRGC fast boats and a drone threatening a U.S.-flagged merchant tanker.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio on standing with the Iranian people and U.S. negotiations with the regime.
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A regime that chants “Death to America” and has killed thousands of its own people can't be trusted.
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“We should all have the courage to stand for the Iranian people, even if it means being a lone light in a sea of darkness." - David Draiman, lead singer of Disturbed, in a WSJ op-ed
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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