Numerous Jewish Organizations Criticize Iran Deal

The historic Iran nuclear agreement, more than a decade in the making, has elicited a wide array of reactions throughout the world, with some praising it as the dawn of a new era and others condemning it as appeasement of a dangerous enemy.

In light of the obvious threat posed to the security of those living in Eretz Yisrael, Jewish organizations have followed developments closely and remained overwhelmingly skeptical and critical of what is seen by many as a dangerously flawed deal.

“The Orthodox Union worked closely with our allies in Congress and the mainstream pro-Israel community to identify five requirements that a good deal with Iran must include,” read a statement from the organization. “Based on initial reports, the deal outlined today appears to skirt these necessary elements and is wholly insufficient.”

The five points referred to were publicized by AIPAC, and were billed as requirements for a “good deal.” They included unimpeded and unannounced inspections, disclosure of previous weaponization programs, sanctions rolled back gradually as Iran meets conditions, a block of weapon capacity for decades to come, and a dismantling of existing atomic infrastructure.

The National Council of Young Israel said that the present conditions will hand Iran recourses to further its sponsorship of terror without eliciting meaningful concessions.

“By granting unprecedented sanctions relief before Iran has proven that it will abide by the agreement that has been reached, the Obama administration is ceding any leverage that it may have had to ensure that Iran takes the necessary steps to curtail its nuclear ambitions,” said the Council. “Providing Iran with vast financial resources while it continues to expand its terrorist activities across the globe and failing to include a requirement that it abandons terrorism and ends its ballistic missile production is absolutely baffling and totally negligent.”

The group called on Congress, which now has 60 days to review terms, to do what it could to block what it called an “incredibly bad deal.”

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder expressed appreciation at the intense efforts by the P5+1 group of nations over many months to reach a deal checking Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but pointed to its “Quds Day” rallies, in which the masses again shouted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” as reasons for pessimism.

“Iran has, in the past, failed over and over again to live up to its treaty obligations,” he said. “It will be critical that the international community remain prepared to reinstate sanctions immediately should Tehran fail to honor any of its commitments under the agreement.”

The European Jewish Congress (EJC) expressed similar disappointment.

“On almost all of the major sticking points, Iran appears to have come out stronger and this deal will prove to be a prize for radicalism and seen as a Western surrender,” said Dr. Moshe Kantor, president of the EJC. “Iran, the biggest sponsor of terrorism and deeply involved in numerous bloody conflicts across the region and beyond, will now become further emboldened and its goal of becoming the regional power in a turbulent region is closer to fruition.”

This article appeared in print on page 9 of the July 15th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.