'US senator pulls pro-Israel bill over Iran amendment'

JPOST.COM

A Democratic senator with a fiercely pro-Israel record who has also distinguished himself as quite hawkish in relation to Iran surprised political observers on Capitol Hill recently when he withdrew legislation that would have deepened US-Israel cooperation on a number of strategic levels, Foreign Policy is reporting on Tuesday.

Senator Bob Menendez (D - New Jersey), who serves as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, withdrew the US-Israel Strategic Partnership Act from the panel’s agenda after it became apparent that a Republican on the committee, Bob Corker of Tennessee, was planning to include an amendment on the Iranian nuclear talks.

According to Foreign Policy, the amendment – which included Congressional hearings if and when President Barack Obama and the five major Western powers reached a deal with Iran on its nuclear program – would have placed Democrats in the awkward position of choosing between shunning its pro-Israel friends or taking on the White House.

Foreign Policy reported that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee expressed its support for the Corker amendment, whose provisions “underscore the key role that Congress must play in defining the terms of an acceptable deal and its implementation.”

An aide to one senator told Foreign Policy that the amendment “politicizes” the Israel-US strategic relationship – whose maintenance has long been a subject of bi-partisan support.

"It is deeply disappointing that a bipartisan bill cosponsored by over 60 senators sending a strong message extending far beyond the United States - Israel security partnership is being politicized when it should be passed," said the aide. "This is the right bill for the right time as the United States and Israel continue to make advances in technology, homeland security, agriculture, and other areas. It is not the appropriate vehicle to legislate on Iran."

The original legislation would have broadened Israeli-American cooperation in areas such as defense, intelligence, energy, and homeland security, according to Foreign Policy.

Democrats have long been weary of what they perceive to be attempts by pro-Israel hawks and Republicans who are keen to drive a wedge between them and supporters of Israel by submitting legislation that limits the Obama administration’s room to maneuver in the diplomatic negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

"Preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon has been a top priority for the administration, toward which we have worked diligently with Congress and our international partners," an administration official told Foreign Policy. "The administration is fully committed to continuing to brief and consult closely with Congress so that the United States government speaks with one voice and does not undermine our negotiators' efforts to achieve a strong deal that will protect our interests and those of our partners and the international community."