With three of the four largest Jewish Congressional districts nationwide in Brooklyn, the pressure is mounting on the borough’s Congress members to reject President Obama’s proposed agreement with Iran in which international sanctions would end in exchange for a verifiable promise that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon for 10 years.
Opponents of the deal argue the verification measures are not strong enough and the money Iran gets from the end of sanctions will further their financing of terrorist activities.
In order for Obama to sign the deal with Iran on behalf of the United States, which was the lead negotiator along with France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China, he will need a little more than a third of Congress to vote for it in September.
This has led to grassroots efforts around the borough – along with some logistical help from Israel, through its American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) arm – to convince the borough’s federal lawmakers to vote against the deal.
The chief recipients of this grassroots effort in the House are Congress members Yvette Clarke and Hakeem Jeffries – both of whom have a large Jewish constituency and a close relationship with the Obama administration.
Among the most active and organized neighborhoods opposing the deal is Crown Heights, in which some 30 Crown Heights synagogues and community organizations emailed their members expressing deep concern with the deal.
Additionally, opponents hung several 20-foot banners across Kingston Avenue, targeting the deal. One of the anti Iran banners read “Death to Israel. Death to the USA”, a quote from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the days following the agreement.
Other banners read “Deal gives billions to terrorists”. All the banners have Clarke’s phone number and ask community members to call her office and urge her to vote ‘NO!’.
Despite being besieged with what one source said was over 750 phone calls to vote no on the deal, Clarke, said she remains undecided.
“I am still in the process of analyzing all of the provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and have not yet reached a decision on the Iran nuclear agreement,” said Clarke, whose district is about 25 percent Jewish including the heavily Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods of Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush and Kensington.
“During this period of due diligence and deliberation, I am in the process of closely examining its terms, conditions and following up with any and all questions to the Department of State, the Department of Energy, and the Department of the Treasury that may arise, particularly in light of concerns raised by my constituents,” she added.
Jeffries spokesperson Michael Hardaway said Jeffries is also undecided.
“Representative Jeffries is studying the agreement, speaking with stakeholders on all sides of the issue and will be meeting with constituents over the next few weeks before reaching a conclusion,” said Hardaway.
Also committing resources and time to reach out to Brooklyn’s federal lawmakers to oppose the deal is the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition, which represents the Jewish community in the greater Flatbush area.
Meanwhile the national organization, Agudath Israel of America, which includes several Brooklyn board members, recently took a trip to Washington to lobby Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, among other lawmakers, to reject the deal.
At post time, Gillibrand along with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Jerry Nadler remain undecided on the deal as they continue to study it. A spokesperson for Rep. Nydia Velazquez did not get back to KCP at post time.
