The CUFI Action Fund is a single-issue organization. But some world
events are so important that history itself pivots at those points and
the ripples it sends impacts everything. Russia's appalling,
unwarranted, and inhumane invasion of Ukraine is such an event. We've
seen the United States and Europe come together in support of Ukraine in
ways unthinkable just weeks ago. Decades of foreign policy for some
European nations have been completely upended. The world has changed
once more because of war in Europe.

We do recognize, as we pointed out two weeks ago, that American weakness
begets conflict. Whether it be in dealings with Russia or Iran, efforts
to accommodate leaders like Putin or the Ayatollah leaves one empty
handed when push comes to shove.

We feel strongly that the Biden administration must cease begging others
to do what is right and start acting like a superpower.

The Iran Angle

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has completely shifted the geopolitical
landscape. Yet, it is worth reminding you that the United States is
still using the Russians as the key conduit in our indirect talks with
the Iranians. Even after the invasion of Ukraine moved forward, the
State Department doubled down on this diplomatic channel. The word we
are hearing is that the push for reaching a "deal" is more fervent than
ever.

This is insanity and it should be stopped along with the talks
themselves, which are on the brink of disaster. Many rumors abound over
the contents of an agreement which could be forthcoming later this
month.

There are many aspects of these reports we find deeply troubling. For
one, it has been suggested that the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps), otherwise known as the tip of the terrorist spear for Tehran,
would no longer be sanctioned by the U.S. government under this
agreement. This would be an abomination as Iran and the IRGC continue
their terrorist behavior across the world unabated. Secondly, there are
many reports over vast sums of money to which Iran would have access,
all the while having to make the most minor of concessions on the
nuclear front.

Perhaps with a war in Europe underway, the Biden administration believes
they can slip through a deal far worse than anything agreed upon
previously. Perhaps Iran, seeing the Biden Administration's too often
timid approach to Russia, believes they can bully his negotiators. We
cannot allow for Iran to take advantage of these dangerous times, nor
should we allow Russia to be our emissary.    

Russia on the Med

Israel is in a difficult position vis-à-vis Moscow. Jerusalem is
sending vital humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, joining other nations
at the UN in condemning the attack on Ukraine, and helping to evacuate
both Jews and Arabs out of Ukraine.

But as Foreign Minister Lapid outlined, "Israel effectively has a
security border with Russia. Russia is the most significant military
power in Syria, and our cooperation mechanism with them assists in our
determined battle against Iranian entrenchment on our northern border."

We know Israel is in a tough neighborhood, one in which the Iranians are
actively trying to destroy. Russia has not been shy about threatening
Israel's aerial operations over Syria, nor its rightful claim to the
Golan Heights. All this in efforts to keep Israel from further engaging
in Ukraine.

Russia's increased presence in the Middle East, in large part due to
the Obama administration's reluctance to back their words with deeds
in Syria, is a clear and present reality which Jerusalem is forced to
deal with. And as the war in Ukraine shows, at the end of the day it is
Israelis who will be fighting for their country should that day come.

Back in the USSR

Our Director of Public Policy and Strategy, Boris Zilberman, feels the
current conflict acutely. He left the Soviet Union as a refugee when he
was a child. While born in Moscow, his family comes from small villages
and towns in the Pale of Settlements stretching from Lithuania to
Ukraine. This area has seen hard times before, particularly the local
Jewish populations which saw horrific destruction as the Nazis advanced
during World War II and the pogroms before then.

The West did not believe the evil leaders of that era when they made
their intentions clear. Putin is a revisionist leader looking to create
a greater Russia once more. As a result, today in Ukraine we are seeing
nothing less than a modern era pogrom aimed at the Ukrainian people -
both Christians and Jews alike.

Zilberman adds that, "Putin has the audacity to claim he is engaged in
'denazification' when in fact he is indiscriminately attacking a
western orientated democracy led by a Jewish President. It is about time
we believe our enemies when they tell us who they are."

We will keep the people of Ukraine in our prayers. We will also continue
to stand watch as those who seek to destroy Israel or take advantage of
this situation seek to advance their causes.

As Pastor Hagee likes to say, a threat to freedom anywhere is a threat
to freedom everywhere.

Sincerely,

CUFI Action Fund Team

SUPPORT CUFI ACTION FUND
_________________

Sent to [email protected]

Unsubscribe:
[link removed]

CUFI Action Fund, 300 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003, United States