Israel Matzav

Obama and Kerry trying to block sanctions against Iran

Obama ally John Kerry, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is joining forces with President Obama to prevent unilateral sanctions against Iran from reaching the Senate floor.

Unilateral U.S. sanctions against Iran are on track, Senate officials say, but taking the slow train.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, needs time to consider the bill, his spokesman, Frederick Jones, told JTA. Jones strongly refuted rumors that Kerry would keep the legislation from reaching the floor, although that is in his power as a committee chairman.

"We're working with the administration to reach a solution that achieves the minimum all parties" want, Jones said. "There's no hold, it's not dead, it's just they're anticipating the legislative process."

That means it's extremely unlikely the Senate will rush the legislation before year's end, as had been reported earlier, especially considering other pressing matters.

The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, which is opposed by the Obama administration, was passed by the House on Wednesday by a 412-12 vote.

Guess who's lining up with the Obama administration.

Still, what exists now is a situation in which many major Jewish groups -- including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the Reform movement -- are pushing hard for bills that Obama and Kerry would prefer to work slowly and carefully. Only Americans for Peace Now is publicly aligned with the administration in counseling changes to the proposed sanctions.

As you may recall, J Street was opposed to sanctions altogether.

Will 78% of American Jews vote for Obama in 2012?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:35 PM