2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

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IRAN A Repressive Regime Iran is a theocratic dictatorship that maintains control by holding fraudulent elections and violently suppressing its own citizenry. KEY POINTS • Following massive protests after the June 2009 presidential election, the Iranian regime instituted and maintained a massive crackdown on an increasingly discontented and restless population. • Iranian authorities subject their opponents to arbitrary and mass arrests, prolonged detentions, torture and execution. • Iran severely limits women’s rights and freedoms of speech, religion, press and assembly. • The United States can play an important role in criticizing Iranian abuses and in providing funding to promote human rights in Iran. The Important Role That Congress Can Play Congress has been a steadfast voice in speaking out in support of freedom and democracy in Iran. Congress should ensure that the executive branch enforces sanctions passed in 2010 and strengthened in 2012 to target those in Iran responsible for committing serious human rights abuses as well as those foreign companies that provide Iran the means to carry out those cruel acts. Congress can give additional support to human rights activists in Iran by providing anticensorship technology, supporting broadcasting into Iran and exercising its oversight responsibilities to examine the scope and effectiveness of the administration’s efforts in the area. Congress also can do more to highlight Iranian religious repression through hearings and in meetings with foreign officials. 133
IRAN The Regime Has a Long History of Repressing Its People Iran has reminded the world time and again that despite presidential and parliamentary elections, it remains a religious—and increasingly a military—dictatorship. The supreme leader retains final veto authority over all government decisions and has empowered the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)—a U.S.-designated terrorist organization—and IRGC-affiliated politicians to manage many aspects of Iran’s domestic and foreign policy, as well as much of its economy. TORTURES AND KILLS OPPONENTS AFTER FRAUDULENT ELECTION The June 2009 presidential election was a stark reminder of the lack of democracy and fundamental freedoms in Iran. In addition to severely limiting the ability of candidates to run for the office— only 4 out of 476 prospective candidates were allowed to compete—this election was marked by significant voter fraud. When millions of Iranians took to the streets to protest President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s stolen electoral victory, the government unleashed the Revolutionary Guard and the paramilitary Basij militia to violently suppress the demonstrations. In the immediate aftermath of the fraudulent election, as many as 200 people were killed and another 4,000 were arrested as part of the initial crackdown on opposition activists. Thousands more have since been arrested. In addition, reports of rape, torture and executions of political prisoners remain commonplace. IMPOSES HARSH CENSORSHIP AND DENIES FREEDOM OF THE PRESS Claiming the need to protect the “fundamental principles of Islam,” the Iranian regime restricts freedom of speech and of the press, creating a vast system of censorship and selfcensorship. The regime suppresses all criticism of Islamic rule and routinely imprisons journalists who dare to defy its dictates. Reporters Without Borders has In 2009, Iranian citizens initiated mass protests after fraudulent presidential elections. 134
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1 1 3 T H C O N G R E S S • 1 S T
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TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREIGN AID 102 F
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INTRODUCTION What AIPAC Supports Th
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Why Israel Matte
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS The Jewish Conne
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THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL’S BORDERS L
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS massacres, prese
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS An Ancient Capit
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel. However,
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Di
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Shares Am
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Respects
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS prime minister.
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Ha
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Provides
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israeli agricult
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israeli High-Tec
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RELATIONSHIP Relationship—Key Pri
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RELATIONSHIP The United States Has
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RELATIONSHIP that providing militar
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RELATIONSHIP What Congress Has Done
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RELATIONSHIP Israel Is America’s
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RELATIONSHIP boosting Israel’s ro
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RELATIONSHIP cooperation between th
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RELATIONSHIP State, Local Officials
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RELATIONSHIP America’s Oil Depend
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RELATIONSHIP The United States and
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RELATIONSHIP oil through the deploy
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RELATIONSHIP The U.S.-Israel Econom
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RELATIONSHIP Apple, Google, Intel a
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RELATIONSHIP Israeli companies have
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RELATIONSHIP What Congress Has Done
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ISRAEL AT RISK Why Israel Is at Ris
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ISRAEL AT RISK Iran: The Leading St
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TERRORIST BUILDUP IN GAZA Ashkelon
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ISRAEL AT RISK U.N. Security Counci
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ISRAEL AT RISK The Missile Threat I
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THE IRANIAN MISSILE THREAT BEL LARU
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ISRAEL AT RISK Syrian Weapons Arsen
Page 83 and 84: ISRAEL AT RISK What Congress Has Do
Page 85 and 86: ISRAEL AT RISK Iran Pursues Nukes,
Page 89 and 90: ISRAEL AT RISK A Region in Flux The
Page 91 and 92: ISRAEL AT RISK The Egyptian militar
Page 93 and 94: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Ha
Page 95 and 96: ISRAEL AT RISK From Double Standard
Page 97 and 98: ISRAEL AT RISK repeatedly held “E
Page 99 and 100: ISRAEL AT RISK 2002 alone, Palestin
Page 103 and 104: FOREIGN AID Foreign Aid—Key Princ
Page 105 and 106: FOREIGN AID U.S.-Israel Agreement A
Page 107 and 108: FOREIGN AID The most recent U.S.-pr
Page 109 and 110: INCREASED THREATS, INCREASED COSTS:
Page 111 and 112: FOREIGN AID Keeping America Safe, S
Page 113 and 114: FOREIGN AID Securing America, Stren
Page 115 and 116: FOREIGN AID Foreign aid plays a cri
Page 117 and 118: FOREIGN AID What Congress Has Done
Page 119 and 120: IRAN Iran—Key Principles PREVENT
Page 121 and 122: IRAN How a Nuclear Iran Would Under
Page 123 and 124: IRAN UNDERMINE AMERICA’S CREDIBIL
Page 125 and 126: IRAN purpose but to produce and tes
Page 127 and 128: IRAN In 2012, the Obama administrat
Page 129 and 130: IRAN A Terrorist Regime Iran is the
Page 131 and 132: IRAN The Islamic Revolutionary Guar
Page 133: IRAN What Congress Has Done to Coun
Page 137 and 138: IRAN What Congress Has Done to Oppo
Page 139 and 140: PEACE PROCESS The Peace Process—K
Page 141 and 142: PEACE PROCESS United States, Israel
Page 143 and 144: PEACE PROCESS a state in other U.N.
Page 145 and 146: PEACE PROCESS THE UNITED STATES SHO
Page 147 and 148: ISRAEL’S QUEST FOR PEACE Even bef
Page 149 and 150: PEACE PROCESS What Congress Has Don
Page 151 and 152: PEACE PROCESS Hamas: 25 Years of Te
Page 153 and 154: PEACE PROCESS right and real way to
Page 155 and 156: PEACE PROCESS What Congress Has Don
Page 157 and 158: SYRIA-LEBANON Syria and Lebanon—K
Page 159 and 160: SYRIA-LEBANON The Syrian Regime Has
Page 161 and 162: SYRIA-LEBANON can consolidate the m
Page 163 and 164: SYRIA-LEBANON ASSAD REJECTED U.S. O
Page 165 and 166: SYRIA-LEBANON What Congress Has Don
Page 167 and 168: SYRIA-LEBANON Hizballah Serves as I
Page 169: SYRIA-LEBANON What Congress Has Don
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