Before a crowd of about 200 mostly Orthodox Jews, Crown Heights State Sen. Jesse Hamilton, Borough Park City Councilman David Greenfield and Borough Park Assemblyman Dov Hikind yesterday ratcheted up the pressure on Brooklyn Congress Members Hakeem Jeffries and Yvette Clarke to vote against the proposed Iran accord.
The controversial pact between Iran and the United States, Germany, Russia, France , Great Briton and China would see economic sanctions end against Iran in exchange for the country not building a nuclear weapon for 10 years.
Opponents of the Iran deal argue it is capitulating to a country that endorses international terrorism and continues to advocate for the destruction of both the U.S. and Israel. Thus far. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and several New York Congress members said they oppose the plan.
But proponents of the deal say it includes verification measures that Iran won’t develop a nuclear weapon, and gives the United States some “skin in the game” on how Iran develops their nuclear energy program. Brooklyn/Manhattan Congressman Jerrold Nadler – who is Jewish – recently said he will support the deal.
“Iran Nuclear Deal supporters focus on the early years. Well what happens when Iran received generous upfront sanction relief? When tens of billions of dollars go to terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah or to groups that have platted attacks in Buenos Aires, Berlin, Jerusalem and Washington DC? And further down the line, this deal allows restrictions to phase out over time,” said Hamilton. “I stand with my community in demanding a better deal. Prevent sponsorship of terror, stop Iran menacing us and our allies, and don’t rely on trusting words from Iran to assure our security.”
Hikind called the deal extraordinarily naive and dangerous. “Based on initial reports, this is total capitulation. The only winner is Iran. The deal essentially paves Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Greenfield said his problem with the deal is it is a bad deal. “It does not protect anyone. It is time that our Brooklyn representatives followed Schumer’s lead and let Obama know that we can negotiate a better deal for America,” he said.
While the event drew many people who are against the accord, there were about 50 Orthodox Jews across Kingston Avenue who gathered in support of the agreement.
Although there was a few people taunting this group, Jacob Eisdorfer, a community activist and organizer of the event agains the Iran deal, said he was grateful to the NYPD for their tremendous cooperation and in keeping things peaceful.
“This event was a great success. I hope the unity of the community in Brooklyn will send the right massage to the New York Congressional delegation” Eisdorfer said.
The rally came as both Jeffries and Clarke have yet to make up their mind on the deal. Both have a majority black constituency with a large blocks of mostly conservative Jews – many of whom give hearty donations to their campaigns.
Greenfield said he recently spoke to Jeffries and was told the Congressman will make his decision in the next few days.
The Obama administration negotiated the deal and vowed to veto a Congressional vote against it. Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote against the deal by both the House and the Senate.
The congressional vote is scheduled for early next month.
