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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON JUNE 4, 2007


Federation’s Board of Trustees Approves Policy Statement Regarding Iran's Nuclear Program

On May 30, the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland’s Board of Trustees approved a policy statement submitted by the Federation’s Community Relations Committee to combat the threat of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. The policy statement outlines the background of the Cleveland Jewish community’s concerns as well as immediate and long-term action steps to be taken. Our efforts, along with those of other Jewish organizations nationwide, will play a significant role in shaping regional responses and the national political dialogue. In addition, Jewish community relations efforts will engage our general community partners who play a constructive and necessary role in addressing the Iranian challenge.

Eric E. Bell, Chair of the Federation's Community Relations Committee said in a statement: "Iran has been identified by the U.S. State Department as the world's most active state sponsor of terror, and poses a clear danger to the democratic world, to moderates in the Middle East and to Israel. Our community's particular concerns are heightened since Iran is led by a President that denies the Holocaust and publicly threatens the very existence of Israel. The alternative of standing idly by and hoping that the Iranian threat will evaporate on its own is untenable; the need to respond to this threat is self-evident and unavoidable."



See below for the full policy statement:

Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland


May 30, 2007


JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF CLEVELAND POLICY STATEMENT REGARDING IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE FEDERATION’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES


The threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions should be of growing concern to every American. This is the challenge of a nuclear Iran: a country whose leaders blatantly defy their international obligations; a country which has been identified as the world’s leading state sponsor of international terrorism, funding Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas, as well as Shiite insurgent groups; a country which expresses vehement hostility towards the U.S., Great Britain, Europe and Israel, including predictions of the imminent destruction of the U.S. and calls for Israel to be “wiped off the face of the map.”

Concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions have not just been limited to the U.S., Israel and the West. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan have also warned that Iran’s nuclear development program poses a threat to the stability of the Middle East and could provoke a nuclear/non-conventional arms race within the Arab world. Leaders in the region and beyond also have expressed concern that a nuclear Iran will destabilize world oil markets, have a deleterious effect on the global economy, and will make it increasingly more difficult to make progress towards peace in the region.

Ambassador Gregory Schulte, U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. and the International Atomic Energy Agency, has said that until Iran cooperates to address global concern, like-minded countries should impose a full range of non-military measures to reinforce the pressure on Iran’s leadership to suspend its activities of concern. Aggressive diplomacy and sanctions have been the key policy options to mount increasing political and economic pressure on Iran and to penalize the country for its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Pressure is mounting on the Iranian regime. Current and past U.S. policy has tried to limit Iran’s strategic capabilities through international diplomacy, sanctions and regime change. European banks have been limiting their transactions with Iran. Multinational corporations have been holding back investments. Countries have limited investment in Iran’s oil field development. Iran’s government is heavily dependent on oil exports – and Iran’s oil exports are heavily dependent on international investment. As a result, Iran’s oil minister recently admitted that it was increasingly difficult to find foreign partners. Internally, inflation and unemployment remains extremely high, despite promises by President Ahmadinejad to improve the standard of living.

There is much more that needs to be done, specifically by the Europeans and the United Nations, to head off the threat of Iran. There are a full range of non-military measures at their disposal, including direct political, economic, and other non-military pressure, which could help influence Iran’s leadership. Experts believe that these actions, if serious and sustained, and supported by other like-minded countries (and not undermined by China, Russia and others), have the potential to succeed against the Iranian regime.

The Federation believes that:
 • History has taught the Jewish people to take the words of our enemies seriously.
 • The threat of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons is of grave international concern and utmost urgency.
 • Jewish communities across America have a historic responsibility to raise concern and do everything within their power to stop Iranian nuclear ambitions.

The Federation should:
 • Raise awareness of the threat of Iran with a variety of non-Jewish institutions and leaders, including academics, interfaith partners and foreign policy focused civic groups.
 • Collaborate with the CRC’s constituent organizations, especially the ADL, AJC, Hillel and the Greater Cleveland Board of Rabbis to develop a strategic response.
 • Communicate with Ohio legislators at the state and federal levels regarding our alarm and concern; and do the same with the Bush Administration, the U.N. and governments supporting Iran such as Russia and China.
 • Work to introduce the Iranian threat into the presidential nomination debates to ensure that both national parties and all of their presidential candidates address this threat.
 • Solicit op-eds and letters to the editor from prominent opinion leaders to raise concern about Iran’s rhetoric and actions.
 • Utilize Federation’s communication vehicles of the E-Newsletter, CRC Action Alerts, the website, and other outlets to communicate key messages and action steps.
 • Plan a Jewish community conference that will serve to both educate participants in general and to send a broader communal message of the importance of the Iran issue, and a call to action. The forum will be sponsored by the Jewish organizations and synagogues in the Jewish community.
 • Endorse the efforts to indict and bring to justice Iranian officials who have incited to genocide, a crime under international law.
 • Support economic measures against Iran, which after appropriate consideration should include, for example, sanctions, shareholder activism and targeted divestment (particularly direct divestment) of foreign companies who are aiding Iran's energy and nuclear development industries.
 • Support diplomatic efforts with Iran to try and convince the regime that it needs to try and change its behavior, but only when these discussions are linked to specific goals and have consequences if outcomes are not met.
 • Participate in local and national campaigns to stop Iran, for example, pickets, mass demonstrations, ads and other actions to exert pressure on the Iranian regime and its supporters.


Sources:

Remarks by Ambassador Gregory Schulte, February 7, 2007, on “Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions: Confronting a Common Security Challenge”

Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, September 11, 2006, entitled “Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses”

“Revised Draft Resolution on Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program” for consideration by the JCPA Task Force on Israel, World Jewry and International Human Rights

“Draft Resolution Regarding Iran” submitted by Boston for Action by the 2007 JCPA Plenum


Media Contact:   Allison Agin
Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland
1750 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
216.566.9200, ext. 343; fax 216.861.1230
e-mail: aagin@jcfcleve.org