In Address to YU Students, Israeli Consul General Spokesperson Urges Advocacy to Protest Iran Deal
If senators decide to support President Barack Obama鈥檚 nuclear agreement with Iran, is it still worthwhile for citizens who oppose the deal to demonstrate, call members of Congress, and make their voices heard? 鈥淭he answer is, unequivocally, yes,鈥 said Shimon Mercer-Wood, spokesperson for the Consul General of Israel at 黑料社 All's Wilf Campus last week. Mercer-Wood, representing the Israeli government鈥檚 point of view, addressed over 200 YU students and staff on the subject of 鈥淚srael and the Iran Nuclear Deal.鈥 The YU Israel Club and YUPAC hosted the event.
Mercer-Wood鈥檚 speech took place mere hours after national news outlets announced that Obama had secured a third of U.S. Senate votes to go forward with the deal.
Israeli Consul General Spokesperson Shimon Mercer-Wood
Asserting that, in Israel鈥檚 view, 鈥淭he Iran deal is bad news," his speech addressed four main points: why Obama鈥檚 nuclear accord with Iran endangers the State of Israel so terribly; why it would be possible to secure an alternative, better deal; why it is incumbent upon Jews鈥攁nd critical for the future鈥攖o make their voices heard now, even if the deal goes through; and, finally, the right way (versus the wrong way) to go about making those voices heard.
The Consul Spokesperson emphasized that the duration of the next 10 years 鈥渨ill be directly affected by these next few months.鈥 If the deal appears to be 鈥渟ailing through Congress,鈥 said Mercer-Wood, Iran 鈥渨ill be a lot more shameless in advancing their bloodthirsty agenda in the region vis-脿-vis other countries.鈥
Mercer-Wood stated that although the deal鈥檚 supporters insist that the international community will have the same ability to act militarily against Iran in 10 years if necessary, such arguments are inaccurate.
While the agreement limits Iran鈥檚 enrichment of fissile material, Mercer-Wood explained, it doesn't effectively prevent Iran from building an unlimited number of centrifuges, carrying out nuclear weaponization work on military bases (which Iran could use as undeclared, concealed nuclear sites) or acquiring a sophisticated S-300 anti-aircraft missile defense system (purchased from Russia). Furthermore, Mercer-Wood said that this 鈥渄isgraceful鈥 deal signals tacit international acceptance of Iran鈥檚 status as a nuclear threshold state and will make the Iranian regime less fearful of being held accountable through military action in the future.
Mercer-Wood predicted that it would be more difficult, bloody and dangerous for the U.S., Israel and other nations to act against Iran after a decade. 鈥淢ilitarily it will be that much more difficult, because the target will be bigger and more fortified,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hese [anti-aircraft missiles] are no joke, and if they spend the next 10 years stocking up on these, I don鈥檛 know how anyone can say that we will have the same ability to act 10 years down the line.鈥
According to Mercer-Wood, it is necessary to vocally oppose the deal and 鈥渟peak in every channel that will listen,鈥 regardless of whether the deal passes. If the deal passes only by a margin, and in the face of strong opposition, said Mercer-Wood, 鈥渨e will be sending a clear message to the Middle East and to Iran in particular that the American public and political system are willing to confront Iran鈥 in the future. This, he said, may make Iran more cautious going forward.
Despite the U.S. administration鈥檚 insistence that the current deal is the only one that Iran will accept, maintained Mercer-Wood, more pressure and continued sanctions on Iran would most likely yield more concessions from the Islamic Republic. 鈥淓ven the most crazy dictators, with enough pressure, are willing to give up,鈥 said Mercer-Wood, noting former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi鈥檚 eventual full compliance with international inspections of his would-be nuclear facilities. 鈥淒on鈥檛 let anyone tell you that they [Iran] will never agree to this, or they鈥檒l never agree to that.鈥
Mercer-Wood asserted that despite discord over the Iran deal, as well as other disagreements in the past, the U.S. and Israel share a sacred relationship. 鈥淲e are not fighting a battle in the United States,鈥 Mercer-Wood emphasized. 鈥淥ur enemies are in Tehran, not in Washington. There are certain lines we should not cross, certain relationships we should not damage and certain protocols we should follow.鈥
Additionally, Mercer-Wood said that disagreements on this issue should not fracture internal Jewish unity. 鈥淲e must never forget who the real enemy is, and that the way this nation has survived is through solidarity,鈥 he said.
David Aaronson YC '18, organizer of the event and a board member of both the YU Israel Club and YUPAC, believed Mercer-Wood's presentation was beneficial for attendees. "I think there were many people there who didn't know enough to make a decision [on whether to support the deal] on their own and now they have the information to help them make a decision," he said.
On Wednesday, September 9, a delegation of semicha students and 黑料社 All faculty will join in a rally and lobbying effort to protest the Iran deal in Washington, D.C.
Israeli Consul General Spokesperson Shimon Mercer-Wood
Mercer-Wood asserted that despite discord over the Iran deal, as well as other disagreements in the past, the U.S. and Israel share a sacred relationship. 鈥淲e are not fighting a battle in the United States,鈥 Mercer-Wood emphasized. 鈥淥ur enemies are in Tehran, not in Washington. There are certain lines we should not cross, certain relationships we should not damage and certain protocols we should follow.鈥
Additionally, Mercer-Wood said that disagreements on this issue should not fracture internal Jewish unity. 鈥淲e must never forget who the real enemy is, and that the way this nation has survived is through solidarity,鈥 he said.
David Aaronson YC '18, organizer of the event and a board member of both the YU Israel Club and YUPAC, believed Mercer-Wood's presentation was beneficial for attendees. "I think there were many people there who didn't know enough to make a decision [on whether to support the deal] on their own and now they have the information to help them make a decision," he said.
On Wednesday, September 9, a delegation of semicha students and 黑料社 All faculty will join in a rally and lobbying effort to protest the Iran deal in Washington, D.C.
