This week we saw the latest examples of how the vital security assistance we lobby for each year helps ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge.
Israel announced that it will purchase a series of upgrades to its defenses, including improved Lockheed Martin helicopters, Boeing tankers, additional F-35 fighter jets, and other advanced weapons systems.
These important purchases will help keep Israel safe—and are a direct result of the $3.3 billion in security assistance that you helped secure this past year through AIPAC.
Thank you for working with AIPAC to ensure Israel has the resources needed to defend itself, by itself.
Below are other important news stories from this week.
Sincerely,
Brian Shankman
Director of Regional Affairs and Development
Iran Takes More Steps Toward a Nuclear Weapons Capability
Iran is engaging in a game of nuclear brinksmanship, openly hinting that it is considering developing nuclear weapons at the same time that it is beginning a process to eviscerate outside inspections.
The latest: On Tuesday, Iran began limiting international inspectors’ access to monitor nuclear sites while threatening to further curtail International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections if Tehran’s demands are not met.
Go deeper:AIPAC sent this memo to congressional offices.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened that Iran may enrich uranium up to 60 percent purity and will never yield to U.S. pressure over its nuclear program.
Two IAEA reports reported that Iran enriched uranium closer to weapons-grade levels for the first time in eight years.
What’s next? The IAEA Board of Governors meets next week and may take up a resolution to criticize Iran's refusal to cooperate with the agency's probe of undeclared nuclear material found at several once secret sites.
The U.S. and Israel will also launch strategic, intelligence-sharing discussions on Iran's nuclear program in the coming days.
The way forward:While seeking a diplomatic path, the United States must not succumb to Iran’s nuclear extortion. Iran is attempting to set a deadline for sanctions relief, but the Biden administration must hold firm.
Israeli officials sent a request to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Jerusalem Muslim Waqf asking that the Israeli government be allowed to open a coronavirus vaccination station to vaccinate Palestinians in the Temple Mount area.
The station was meant to vaccinate mainly Palestinian worshipers visiting the area.
Abbas rejected the request.
Israel then offered the vaccines be administered by Arab Israelis, not Jews, in clothes with no Israeli medical markings—only to be rejected once again by Abbas.
Background:Nine months ago, the Palestinian Authority rejected 16 tons of medical supplies because they were routed through Israel—prioritizing boycotts of Israel over the health of Palestinians.
What happened?The United States carried out retaliatory airstrikes in eastern Syria on Thursday against Iran-backed militias after recent attacks against American and allied personnel in Iraq.
The Iranian-backed attack on Feb. 15 involved dozens of rockets that targeted U.S. coalition forces outside the Erbil international airport, killing a coalition contractor and wounding nine others, including an American servicemember.
The big picture: Iran remains America and Israel's greatest long-term threat in the Middle East.
Israel Continues to Lead World's Vaccination Efforts
Israel's vaccination campaign is a model for America and the world.
Israel has achieved the highest per capita vaccination rate in the world.
70% of Israelis over 16have received the first dose of the vaccine.
Israel's data shows that the vaccine prevents 98.9% of COVID deaths.
Israel provided thousands of its vaccines to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to inoculate Palestinian medical teams.
Why this matters: The PA has full responsibility for Palestinian healthcare in the West Bank and Gaza under the 1995 Oslo II Accord. Still, Israel is providing important assistance.
Through AIPAC: You have helped lobby Congress to support important U.S.-Israel health cooperation.
Congress has invested $2 million in 2021 for new U.S.-Israel cooperation on COVID-19 research.
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this week and reaffirmed both countries' commitments to the important U.S.-Israel alliance.
Speaker Pelosi:"Today, I spoke w/ @IsraeliPM to reaffirm the unbreakable bond between our nations & Congress’s unwavering support for a safe & secure Israel. We discussed COVID response & our shared hope for regional peace, including a just, stable & enduring 2-state solution."
Prime Minister Netanyahu:"Great talking with @SpeakerPelosi about common challenges and opportunities. The U.S. Congress has always been a bastion of support for the unbreakable alliance between the United States and Israel."
