Polite statement after White House talks belies differences on Iran
Polite statement after White House talks belies differences on Iran | The Times of Israel.
Unusual meeting of selected Jewish leaders with senior Obama officials comes amid signs of divergence in US and Israeli positions on nuclear crisis
The White House (photo credit: AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
WASHINGTON — A group of American Jewish leaders met Tuesday at the White House with senior Administration officials to discuss efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The meeting, arranged at the last minute, was described in a joint statement issued by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations as a “constructive and open exchange.” The sides agreed “to continue the consultation to enhance the prospect of achieving a transparent and effective diplomatic resolution,” the statement said.
There was nothing in the statement, however, to suggest that problems and disagreements between some of the groups and the administration had been resolved. AIPAC, for instance, has been lobbying hard for a new sanctions bill that is supposed to go to a vote in the Senate soon, and which the Obama administration has indicated it does not want to see advanced.
The Jewish leaders — from the Conference, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and AIPAC — said the Administration officials reaffirmed President Barack Obama’s “commitment to prevent Iran from attaining nuclear capability and that all options remain viable to assure that end.” Members of left-leaning organizations said that they had been excluded from the session by the White House.
One person present described the atmosphere as “congenial,” and said several aspects of US policy on Iran were discussed, including the new international negotiations and the pending Senate legislation.
The meeting was arranged amid an escalation of signals that the Obama and Netanyahu governments are parting ways on Iran strategy, and those leaders invited came from groups that deal closely with Israel and its security concerns. A number of groups normally high on the list for White House briefings were not invited, including representatives of the Reform and Orthodox movements.
A White House meeting with a broader group of Jewish-American organization leaders had been scheduled for Monday, but on Sunday, White House officials contacted some organizations to tell them that the meeting was delayed. When the meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday, one source told The Times of Israel, White House officials once again contacted the excluded organizations and explained to them that the meeting was only with the organizations that had challenged the administration’s policies on Iran.
A statement from Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council, confirmed that the timing of the meeting was related to talks with Iran. “Following on the recent P5+1 talks with Iran, and in advance of the next round of talks November 7-8, Senior Administration Officials today briefed the leaders of several Jewish organizations on our progress,” Meehan said. “The administration officials made clear that the United States will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, and that our preference is to resolve the issue peacefully through diplomacy.”
The unusual session followed a tense, albeit coded, public exchange between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Secretary of State John Kerry in the last two days over Iran, as well as persistent backing by pro-Israel groups for a congressional bid to enhance Iran sanctions despite White House pleas to put new sanctions on hold.
On Sunday, addressing his Cabinet, Netanyahu derided in unusually sharp terms the attempts to talk Iran down from 20 percent to 3.5 percent uranium enrichment. “The Iranians are intentionally focusing the discussion on this issue. It is without importance,” said Netanyahu, who has insisted that Iran must dismantle all enrichment capabilities as part of a deal to end sanctions aimed at ending its suspected nuclear weapons program.
Netanyahu did not specify Kerry as advancing the proposal, but made it clear his remarks were made in the context of talks he had with Kerry last week in Rome. “This was the focus of the long and detailed talks I had with John Kerry,” he said.
Kerry appeared to return the jab in an address Monday evening to the Ploughshares Fund, a group that advocates nuclear disarmament. “The president has charged me to be and has welcomed an opportunity to try to put to the test whether or not Iran really desires to pursue only a peaceful program, and will submit to the standards of the international community in the effort to prove that to the world,” Kerry said.
“Some have suggested that somehow there’s something wrong with even putting that to the test,” Kerry said. “I suggest that the idea that the United States of America is a responsible nation to all of humankind would not explore that possibility would be the height of irresponsibility and dangerous in itself, and we will not succumb to those fear tactics and forces that suggest otherwise.”
In recent days a number of leading Jewish groups, including AIPAC, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Jewish Federations of North America, have reiterated support for advancing through Congress new and enhanced Iran sanctions, although the Obama administration has made clear publicly that it would prefer Congress put off dealing with the legislation until after the next round of talks in mid-November.
On Monday, Obama spoke with Netanyahu by phone about Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and other Mideast issues. The phone call was part of their “regular consultations,” said a White House statement. “The two leaders agreed to continue their close coordination on a range of security issues.”
In Rome last week, Netanyahu held a marathon session of discussions with Kerry, much of which were focused on the Iranian threat.
In his speech to the UN General Assembly last month, Netanyahu said, “We all want to give diplomacy with Iran a chance to succeed, but when it comes to Iran, the greater the pressure, the greater the chance.” He added: “When it comes to Iran’s nuclear weapons program, here’s my advice: Distrust, dismantle and verify.”
Olli Heinonen, former deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Association, said Monday that Iran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium to build an atomic weapon within two weeks and had, “in a certain way,” already reached the point of no return in its nuclear program.
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WarSclerotic 
October 30, 2013 at 6:43 PM
So, the Obama charm offensive is failing?? Fancy that. Gee, I thought a big Obama smile and warm handshake was all that was needed to make Israelis forget about any existential threat.
October 30, 2013 at 6:47 PM
After 0bamacare roll out failed so conclusively, the ”president” is exposed. Nobody is trusting him now, anymore. Not even the very disappointed fraulein Merkel.
October 30, 2013 at 7:26 PM
So true Luis. I don’t have a clue what will happen to my health insurance. I’m at a point in my life where heath insurance will play an increasing role.
Now I can only expect higher premiums, i.e. maternity coverage and such (which I obviously do not need). But my biggest fear is that my coverage may be dropped entirely. It’s really scary when you consider that my parents cost their insurance company nearly 1.5 million dollars in the last few years of their lives.
Obama is going to catch hell over this failure. Just wait until the claims start rolling in. That will be the next eye opener.
October 30, 2013 at 7:30 PM
I’m realizing only now that the abomination which is called 0bamacare is affecting even good people that I know and respect.
Its unbelievable and I’m truly speechless. I wish you a real good health and may God bless you, Steve.
October 30, 2013 at 7:44 PM
Thanks Luis. God’s blessing is good health and we can all use more of that.
October 30, 2013 at 7:34 PM
The following video clip and article its a must for those readers who might ask themselves ”who the hell is the President of The United States of America” :http://nation.foxnews.com/valerie-jarrett/2012/05/30/author-valerie-jarrett-de-facto-president-united-states
An year ago, people were not taking interest in aspects like this. Today, is at the very core of the American establishment.
October 30, 2013 at 7:53 PM
The video left we with the thought that Valerie Jarrett is first and foremost, a testament to Obama’s weak character.
October 30, 2013 at 7:57 PM
The American public deserve to know who is this ”shadowy figure”, the first president woman [de facto] of the USA.
October 30, 2013 at 8:20 PM
While for some of us the influence of Valerie Jarett over Obavez is nothing new and while it is good that more and more people learn about this unhealthy influence there is a lack of information about her world view, her ideology and what drives her.
Thanks to people like Dinesh D’Souza we have an idea about the ideologies that drive Obavez.
This is not true for Valerier Jarett.
So I would be thankful if someone could give us additional references to such information.
October 30, 2013 at 8:59 PM
Luis is the man with the info on VJ.
I know only that she grew up in Iran.
Luis?
October 30, 2013 at 9:23 PM
Good point. I myself I’m looking into that. The mighty Wikipedia just didn’t do the trick, this time. What I deduced myself [using the psychoanalyze and its childhood environment] is that she doesn’t like the American establishment and she is wishing a ”remaking of America”, ideas which found a favorable ground in Obama’s personality as well. They have much in common: both are American Africans with similar traumas in the childhood. Regarding Obama, we already know that his father has abandoned him and his mother was not around when he most needed her. Valerie Jarrett was born in Iran, Shiraz. She lived there until the age of five, when her family came back in the States. Now, lets consider this: her birthplace is another country. For the little Valerie, this country – Iran – is all that she knew then, until the age of five. It was her first home, her childhood place. Such things remain deep encoded in the memory. And, the leaving process[ the depart] and knowing that she never will come back there, was a heavy burden for a little girl. America was a foreign country for the young child and, in many aspects, its a foreign country for Valerie Jarrett until today. This explains many actions and her attitude in certain matters. So, we have a team of two ”cast out” persons who discovered how much they have in common. This is a real fateful combination; the American people cannot ”wish” something worse for itself.
October 30, 2013 at 9:45 PM
Luis, thanks for your honest attempt.
I will search further. I think that is something many of us want to know.
October 30, 2013 at 10:12 PM
You are always welcome, friend. That was only a part of her file, concerning background and early motivations. I’ll be glad to read something from you on this subject, too, if its possible.
October 31, 2013 at 2:13 AM
Ms. Jarret’s roots spread far and wide. Check out this article. Jarret and Co. A regular rogue’s gallery….
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/58854
October 30, 2013 at 9:33 PM
”Breaking News” from Rotter : Syrian army anti air missile base in Latakia was destroyed before an hour, by missiles launched from the sea direction. The militants are reporting a huge explosion in that region(Latakia) about an hour ago[Rotter].
October 30, 2013 at 9:34 PM
If this is true and is meaning what I think it is meaning, then the Iranian Express Operation might be only hours away.
October 30, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Luis, friends – my daily prayer is that Israels enemies will be shattered so that Israel can live in peace ! From all of my heart I wish that this is happening soon ! Israels history is a history of miracles done by her Guardian – HE who never slumbers nor sleeps ! May we see another great miracle which will deliver Israel another time from those that want to wipe it out ! Lets see once more the sea swallowing those who seek Israels destruction and find their own destruction instead ! Never change a winning team – stick to Israel !
October 30, 2013 at 10:42 PM
22: 40 … Israeli jets and helicopters in Lebanon air space[Rotter].
October 30, 2013 at 9:38 PM
I might be wrong, but, in my opinion, the missile base that were destroyed was a S-300 missile anti air base. We’ll wait and see.
October 30, 2013 at 10:09 PM
[Rotter] Flares and flashes all over Damascus right now (22: 05).
October 30, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Luis, you chasing windmills again?
October 30, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Chill out, John.
October 30, 2013 at 10:44 PM
I’m only reporting from Rotter. Stop being Pavlovian. You have not been shown the bone, yet.
October 30, 2013 at 10:49 PM
Yes.
October 30, 2013 at 11:16 PM
Ok, Ok, I’m chilling. Let’s wait and see what, if anything is going down.
October 30, 2013 at 11:18 PM
Good boy.
October 30, 2013 at 11:31 PM
Don’t know Luis, I see nothing in the global press, me thinks the windmills are spinning in the wind again. Much to do about nothing, par for the course. Time to come to grips, Israel is going to do nothing. It is written!
October 30, 2013 at 9:50 PM
Luis, I don’t know what you are talking about but earlier today I wrote this. It’s my take on the last two days.
Something brewing?
October 30, 2013
By Artaxes
Recent events and, more important, recent statements give me the strange feeling that something is brewing.
That something, I have to stress,is not necessarily an Israeli strike.
It might as well be a big breakthrough in the US/Iran love story, (maybe the announcement of the engagement or the wedding?), if we keep this picture of two lovers who up to now had to meet in secret (Greetings to Luis who came up with this picture).
We had Bibi announcing that ‘Iran can enrich uranium from 3.5% to 90% in weeks’.
We had Debka telling us that Khamenei is in seclusion for three weeks and had not be seen in public since Oct. 5.
In an IOL-article titled “Israel will not bow to nuclear threat” the author tells us:
“It is unlikely that the negotiations with Iran will stop Netanyahu from ordering a strike if he concludes diplomacy has failed in providing security.
To the contrary, if there is one likely scenario that would push Israel to act, it would be the prospect of an imminent deal with Iran that would isolate Israel while not addressing the threat it sees emanating from Tehran.”
We had an ex-IAEA official’s warning that Iran is already past point of no return.
All this negative messages and the Israeli insistence on the comlete dismantlement of Iranian enrichment led the US to react, making clear that nothing will stop its current course, by having Kerry state: “I suggest that the idea that the United States of America as a responsible nation to all human kind would not explore that possibility would be the height of irresponsibility and dangerous in itself and we will not succumb to those fear tactics and forces that suggest otherwise.”
This was of course a thinly veiled message for Netanyahu.
The message is uncacceptable for Israel because it says that the US will continue negotiating with Iran even if the ultimate outcome will be unacceptable for Israel and, worse, the negatiations will drag on for quite some time and may even reach no deal at all.
And what then? In all likelyhood it will too late for Israel to act at that point in time and with Obavez unwilling to act there will be nothing to stop Iran.
This was reflected in Netanyhu’s welcome speech for the Nigerian President when he said about zhe negotiations: “Well, I am sure that for the Iranians they were useful and constructive, because they just win time to continue their enrichment program to create fissile material for nuclear weapons.”
That is why understandably the US is worried about an Israeli strike and that is why after the recent talk between Netanyahu and Obavez we had the White House calling in Jewish leaders for urgent Iran briefing.
Next we had the JPost telling us “IDF to host foreign air forces in major military drill next month” and the participants were not to be disclosed untill the drill begins.
We had the Algemeiner telling us “Israeli Air Force Re-Organization Aims for Expanded Capacity to Hit 10x as Many Targets”.
Excuse me, are they kiddng?
No military that is ready to engage in a certain big operation at any moment would announce to its enemies that they AIM for a certain capability.
You can safely assume that they HAVE ALREADY that capability and that this was a message to Hizbollah/Iran that the IAF, because of this capability, is fully capable of handling Iran and Hizbollah simultaniously and that they better behave or else Hizbollah will be pulverized without the IDF having to go in with ground troops.
This was a signal that the Hizbollah threat will in no way prevent an Iran operation.
Then we have the JPost telling us “White House urges Jewish leaders not to lobby for new Iran sanctions”.
We are hearing from the Times of Israel “Obama administration steps up top-level push to delay additional sanctions legislation set to go through Senate”.
The appeasement train goes full steam ahead and cannot be stopped.
And now we have trend.az telling us “Iran’s Basij forces to hold massive 10-step military drills”.
http://en.trend.az/regions/iran/2206094.html
The more interesting details are:
“Iran’s Basij forces will tomorrow begin massive “Beytul Mugeddes” military drills in the country, deputy Basij commander, Colonel Nosratollah Saif said, IRNA news agency reported.
He said the exercises will be held in 10 steps, with 2-3 specific exercises executed each day, adding that the drills will be held in 5 provinces of Iran.
Saif added that “Asura”, “Kovser”, “Al-Zahra” and “Beytul Mugeddes” battalions will be participating in the drills.
Previously, Iran held the “Beytul Mugeddes” exercises in January 2013.”
To better understand the potential meaning of this it is necessary to remind us that the Basij are not forces designed to defend against external threats but that they are the thugs who are used to crush internal opposition and to protect the regime internally.
Let’s see. We have the IAF drills and the next Iran talks planned for November.
And while Khamenei is still in seclusion a major Iranian drill will not be conducted in Jan. but also in November.
Don’t know but I have the strange feeling that something is brewing.
October 30, 2013 at 10:16 PM
I also posted here a comment – I think it was yesterday, if I’m not wrong – regarding the possibility of an Israeli operation, because, from our part, the sand watch is emptying fast and the conditions with our principal obstructionist are bad for him, that is saying, they are good for us. But its still not a clear cut.
October 30, 2013 at 10:36 PM
Of course the nature of the topic makes it impossible that anything is clear cut.
Just my subjective feeling that something significant is brewing.
I am too cautious to make any prediction.
October 30, 2013 at 11:17 PM
More on the Saudi Arabia and its public frustration about the ”new” WH politics in the region: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-josef-olmert/post_5987_b_4178643.html
October 30, 2013 at 11:45 PM
[Rotter] Starting from 2300, simulated attacks of IAF over Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. It seems like a busy night for the Israeli jets.
October 30, 2013 at 11:52 PM
The reason for those maneuvers is to create deterrence regarding the Shiite militia, if they will consider to retaliate after what happened allegedly in Latakia, earlier this evening.[Rotter].
We are only bringing the translated reports of Rotter from Hebrew, and we are doing this because it seems to us that some sort of unusual activity did happen in Syria, this evening.
October 31, 2013 at 1:49 AM
Just now saw a report in ” the Times of Israel” concerning this matter. Have a good nights rest, friends !
October 31, 2013 at 8:25 AM
Rotter reports are usually very based ones and we take them seriously. They never report a big event which never took place. There is no such a thing there. However, is recommended to have a confirmation at least from one more known, serious source. The reason for not getting that immediately last night was because of the short time happening of many events.
October 31, 2013 at 12:06 AM
Reports of Air defences attacked by IAF, fire returned on jets by Assad forces
October 31, 2013 at 12:13 AM
Sources other than rotter, I see nothing out there.
October 31, 2013 at 12:23 AM
An email from lebanon. However if true these stories hit MSM in the days after
October 31, 2013 at 8:26 AM
Because they all are sleeping now, John.
October 31, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Open the eyes and shut your up your windmill. You’ll see a lot more.
October 31, 2013 at 12:29 AM
IAF over Golan 2 days ago
October 31, 2013 at 1:09 AM
Huge explosion reported at Syrian air defense base
http://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=731414
October 31, 2013 at 8:21 AM
This was the confirmation to the earlier reports we brought here from Rotter and, by which courtesy, we were the first here. Thx Defence for confirmation.
October 31, 2013 at 1:29 PM
No problem
October 31, 2013 at 1:54 AM
We are at the point where the Iran clock could well be in days rather than weeks or months.
We’re approaching a new moon so this week would be the ideal time of the month.
Saturday night could be the best weather this week – overcast with light precipitation and no moon.
If you want to anticipate the exact day it’s worth keeping an eye on the weather forecast.
October 31, 2013 at 1:59 AM
We are edging ever closer to Operation Pillar of Fire
October 31, 2013 at 3:03 AM
We’ll know for sure if Obama decides on a round of golf.
October 31, 2013 at 1:35 PM
Rumors say Israel attacked components for the s300 russian missiles