Opini.on

OT ER \' JEWS

How To Stop Iran

New York/JTA

message in their side meetings with
other world leaders.
longside many heads of
The best example of how to use the
state and prime ministers,
General Assembly came two years ago
Iranian President Mahmoud
when then-President Nestor Kirchner of
Ahmadinejad will address the annual
Argentina used his address to criticize
opening of the U.N. General Assembly
Iran for sponsorship of the 1994 AMIA
this month in New York Jews will turn
bombing, which killed 86 civilians. He
out across the street in protest.
had standing, since Iran was behind
Jews have a legitimate concern about
two terror attacks in his country. He
Iran. So should
had credibility,
everyone else. Iran's
as a major world
nuclear program
leader. He had an
and support for ter-
audience, corn-
rorism are a threat
prising most fel-
to most nations.
low heads of state.
The Jewish
Iran does care
community can
what certain parts:
have a substantive,
of the world think
indirect impact on
— just not what
Iran's actions and
Americans or
policies. Here are
Shai Franklin and Micah Halpern
American Jews
some of the strate-
Special Commentary
think. In 2007, Iran
gies that could bear
gave away millions
fruit if pursued in a
of dollars and
coordinated and consistent way:
signed billions in trade deals in a failed
• A concerted nongovernmental effort
bid to keep Interpol from issuing "red
must be launched to enlist non-Jewish
notices" against five of its senior military
allies and experts across Latin America,
and intelligence operatives for their role
Africa and Europe, even in China. Such
in the AMIA attack. Last April, Iranian
partners can push their governments
voters watched Ahmadinejad be humil-
to take a meaningful stand against Iran.
iated when European delegates walked
Have them push their governments to
out on his anti-Jewish rant at Durban II.
publicly honor commitments to inter-
Jews certainly need to make their voic-
national treaties and Security Council
es heard, but rallies have limited impact.
resolutions, and to their own laws.
Compared to the hundreds of thousands
• Solicit governments to issue joint
who recently marched in Iran against
statements reaffirming sanctions and
Ahmadinejad, 10,000 Jews in New York
get governments to sign up their neigh-
are at best a footnote to what everyone
bors in the movement to pressure Iran.
already knows: The Tehran regime is not
Most immediately, they should sup-
legitimate, and it is a threat to regional
port President Obama if he announces
and global peace.
new measures against Iran, which also
Continue the rallies. That is how
could help Israel take more risks on the
future leaders are forged, that is how
Palestinian track.
politicians learn our priorities. That is
• If leaders insist on attending
how we teach our children about the
Ahmadinejad's U.N. address, they should importance of standing up against
be pressed to clarify at what point they
modern-day Pharaohs and dictators. But
will be prepared to walk out. Will it be
Jewish rallies will not stop Iran.
if Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust, if
Iran watches every single diplomatic
he questions Israel's right to exist, if he
move in certain parts of the world. They
promotes terrorism and the killing of
send out their own people to do the
innocent lives? The act of walking out, as convincing and secure their agenda. Jews
has been proven in the past, leaves a last- must do the same in order to restrict
ing impression, as it did at the Durban
and contain Iran. This means ensuring
Review Conference in Geneva in April.
sufficient international pressure that the
• Speakers from countries other than
regime at last faces real consequences if
the United States and Israel must be
it proceeds with its nuclear program.
encouraged to use part of their own
addresses — at the United Nation and
Shai Franklin is senior fellow for U.N. affairs
at the rallies — to directly confront Iran, at the institute on Religion and Public
telling Iran that the world's patience has
Policy. Micah Halpern, a Mideast expert, is
worn thin. They should underscore this
author of "Thugs" (Thomas Nelson, 2007).

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