American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Draws Red Lines on Talks With Iran
By Nathan Guttman
Published September 20, 2013.
WASHINGTON — Talks of a renewed diplomatic effort to reach a deal with Iran have caused some unease in Israel and among its supporters in the United States.
As Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu warned against falling for the Iranian charm offensive as “the Iranians are continuing to deceive so that the centrifuges continue spinning,” the pro-Israel lobby is also laying out its red lines for any future engagement with Tehran.
In a memo sent out on Friday, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) joined the Israeli attempt to throw cold water on the idea that Iran, and its new president Hassan Rouhani, have made areal change in policy.
“Pleasant rhetoric will not suffice,” AIPAC states, “If Iran fails to act, sanctions must be increased.”
Rouhani’s new tone was on display this week with an interview he gave NBC news in which the Iranian president promised his country is not and will not be interested in developing nuclear weapons, and in a Washington Post opinion column in which he called for diplomatic engagement.
Read more: http://forward.com/articles/184285/aipac-draws-red-lines-on-talks-with-iran/#ixzz2fTTyHhWC