Friend of Israel,


Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury Department
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announced sweeping sanctions targeting 18 Iranian banks.


The sanctions will further reduce the flow of cash into a dangerous, aggressive, and repressive regime that threatens American troops, allies, and interests.

"Today’s action to identify the financial sector and sanction 18 major Iranian banks reflects our commitment to stop illicit access to U.S. dollars," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. "Our sanctions programs will continue until Iran stops its support of terrorist activities and ends its nuclear programs."

The Treasury Department is also allowing waivers to enable humanitarian goods, including to fight COVID, to be transferred to Iran.


We
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welcome the administration’s actions to increase the economic pressure on the regime. The United States must pursue a broad agreement that ensures Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon and addresses the regime’s ballistic missiles and regional aggression.


Below are more key stories from the week impacting our work.


All the best, and have a great weekend.


Brian Shankman

Director of Regional Affairs and Development


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HOW YOU CAN HELP

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It is through the generosity of our members that AIPAC works to help make Israel more secure by ensuring a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.

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SUPPORT AIPAC TODAY



Take Action

Urge Congress to Cosponsor Bipartisan Resolutions Backing Historic Peace Agreements

It's a new era for peace, progress and prosperity in Israeli-Arab relations.


Members of Congress are advancing bipartisan resolutions in the House and Senate strongly supporting the recent peace agreements between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain.


Urge your members to add their support.



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News to Note

Israeli and UAE Foreign Ministers Meet for First Time in Berlin
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READ MORE HERE


This week, the foreign ministers of Israel and the UAE met for the first time in Germany.


While there, the two ministers, along with the German foreign minister,
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visited the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin.


"Our presence here together symbolizes the beginning of a new era. An era of hope and peace," Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said.


After meeting with the UAE Foreign Minister, Ashkenazi
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called on Palestinians to take this opportunity "to return to the negotiating table."


The Palestinians should embrace this model, stop boycotting the United States and Israel, and return to direct talks.



Israel and Jordan Sign Historic Airspace Agreement
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READ MORE HERE


Israel and Jordan signed a historic agreement on Thursday allowing flights to cross over both countries’ airspace.


The new policy will significantly cut flight times, further helping forge a new era for prosperity between Israel and its Arab neighbors.


It's
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#ANewEra for Israeli-Arab relations.

Iran Showcases New Ballistic Missile to Threaten U.S. Carriers
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READ MORE HERE


Iran heralded a new anti-ship ballistic missile this week that could pose a serious threat to U.S. aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.


Showcased during an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exhibit on the strength of the IRGC aerospace force, Iran’s Fars News says it is a "new long arm" for the Islamic Republic.


The Iranian regime continues to advance its ballistic missile program, threaten Americans, and endanger our allies.

There is bipartisan consensus in Congress: The world's leading sponsor of terrorism should not be allowed access to more advanced weapons. In May, 387 members of Congress
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sent a letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo supporting efforts to extend the United Nations arms embargo on Iran.

Iran Working to Undermine American Elections
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Iran is attempting to undermine American democracy.


Based on intelligence provided by the FBI, Twitter "removed approximately 130 accounts that appeared to originate in Iran."


According to Twitter, these accounts were "attempting to disrupt the public conversation during the first 2020 U.S. Presidential Debate."


Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department
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seized 92 websites it said were used by Iran to spread disinformation.


"We assess that Iran seeks to undermine U.S. democratic institutions," U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director William Evanina said.

EU gives Palestinians Ultimatum by Linking Aid to Financial Ties with Israel
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The European Union is demanding that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reinstate the Palestinian's financial relationship with Israel.


EU leaders have told the Palestinian Authority they will not provide any additional financial aid as long as the Palestinians refuse to accept tax revenues collected by Israel.

Defense Digest: September - October 2020
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READ MORE HERE


The security relationship between the United States and Israel is critically important to our national security.


This week, we distributed Defense Digest to congressional offices, highlighting several recent examples of U.S.-Israel cooperation, including agreements signed between an Israeli defense firm and the U.S. military, and the delivery of an Iron Dome battery to the U.S. Army.



The mission of AIPAC is to strengthen and expand the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the United States and Israel.



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