US President Barack Obama should Å“stand up to the Israel lobby” that is dragging Washington into a war with Iran by pushing senators to support a sanctions bill, an analyst says.
Å“This is a classic situation where the Israeli lobby is trying to drag the United States into a war which is not in the Americansâ„¢ interests, it surely is not in the Iraniansâ„¢ interests or the interests of peace all over the world,” Mark Dankof told Press TV on Wednesday.
A majority of US senators have supported the sanctions bill that was introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez and Senator Mark Kirk last month.
The Senate bill initially had the backing of 26 senators, but now 59 members have publically announced support for the measure.
Å“The United States Senate only needs one more senator to create a filibuster proof majority for the sanctions bill. House Representatives may pass its version first in order to pressure the Senate to go along with passing their version of legislation,” Dankof said.
Several important lobby groups, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), are working hard to build support for the measure.
The White House has said President Obama will veto the bill if it passes Congress.
The White House suggested some US lawmakers want the country to attack Iran as they are supporting the sanctions legislation.
Å“If certain members of Congress want the United States to take military action, they should be up front with the American public and say so,” National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said.
AGB/AGB
Source: Press TV