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New York, NY, July 14, 2015 - In response to today's announcement by the P5+1 and Iran, leaders of the Reform Jewish Movement issued the following statement.
REFORM MOVEMENT LEADERSHIP STATEMENT
This morning, after extensive negotiations conducted under intense international scrutiny, P5+1 negotiators, led by Secretary of State John Kerry, announced that they have reached an agreement with Iran over that country’s nuclear program. We in the Reform Jewish Movement remain committed to our belief that the United States and its allies must do all that is possible to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, as well as to protect and enhance U.S. security and the security of our allies—particularly Israel—and promote stability in the entire Middle East.
We deeply appreciate the intense efforts of the multinational negotiators, especially the U.S. administration, for having worked so hard to try to come to a diplomatic resolution with Iran on containment of its nuclear program. As the U.S. Congress, other world leaders, and the American public, including the Jewish community, evaluate the details of the proposed agreement, we recognize that thoughtful people can and do hold strongly different opinions as to whether this agreement is the best obtainable result in securing our shared goals and upholding the ideal that solutions should be found through the negotiating process rather than a military confrontation.
During the last several months, leaders of our Reform Movement have consulted with experts and heard from advocates who both oppose and favor the framework outlined in March by the P5 +1 and Iran. We have conferred with our fellow Jewish organizations and met privately with the White House, the Secretary of State, and representatives of the State of Israel. Right now, we are continuing our ongoing dialogue with the U.S. administration, key members of Congress, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and other prominent Israeli leaders including leaders of the opposition. One helpful touchstone for our analysis of this agreement is the Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Public Statement on U.S. Policy Toward the Iran Nuclear Negotiations, which was endorsed by a panel of bipartisan diplomats and calls for a five-point program ensuring that Iran will not become a nuclear threshold state.
In the coming days and weeks, we will go back to our trusted experts and continue to consult with our constituencies to better understand the consequences of this proposed agreement. We urge all committed parties to take similar, carefully considered approaches before rushing to conclusions.
As the Congress moves forward, we will share our opinion on the viability of this agreement to achieve our goals: that the final agreement will put the optimal standard for restraints on Iran, preventing a nuclear-armed Iran, protecting the security of the United States, Israel and our allies around the world.
CENTRAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN RABBIS: Rabbi Steve Fox, CEO, and Rabbi Denise L. Eger, President
RELIGIOUS ACTION CENTER OF REFORM JUDAISM: Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director, and Jennifer Kaufman, Chair, Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism
UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President, and Steve Sacks, Chair of the Board
UPDATE: The congregational arm of our Movement, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the Rabbinic arm, the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), the advocacy arm, the Religious Action Center (RAC) of Reform Judaism, the Zionist arm, the Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA), in coordination with the international Reform Movement, the International Movement of Progressive Judaism (IMPJ), have been going through an intensive consultation and learning process since the announcement of the Iranian nuclear agreement by the US, EU and the P5 + 1 allies. We have been consulting with American and Israel academic, political and military experts who support and oppose the agreement. We have engaged our professional and lay leadership in conversation and conference calls with these experts and provided background material that offers a diversity of opinion. In the next two weeks we look forward to our final consultations on this, after which we will release a statement regarding the position of our Reform Movement on this most difficult and existential issue.
