Hundreds of U.S. Rabbis Now Support Iran Deal; Send Letter to Congress Urging It Approves Deal

In a disastrous blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- and his persistent efforts to sabotage the Iranian nuclear deal -- 340 U.S. rabbis from the major streams of Judaism expressed support for the Iran deal in a letter to Congress, the Forward (Jewish) website reports today (August 17, 2015).

The letter -- which was sent today -- urges the House of Representatives and Senate to endorse the agreement, in which sanctions against Iran are lifted in exchange for restrictions on Iran's nuclear program. Congress is scheduled to vote on the Iran deal in September.

Noting that "we are deeply concerned with the impression that the leadership of the American Jewish community is united in opposition to the agreement," the letter states, "We, along with many other Jewish leaders, fully support this historic nuclear accord."

In a news release issued by Ameinu -- a liberal Zionist organization -- one of the letter's signatories, Rabbi Steven Bob of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, said, "We commend the U.S. and the other negotiating teams for their dedication to reaching an agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. This deal is good for the United States and our allies in the region, and is the best arrangement possible given current international realities."