Hillary Clinton speaking at
AJCongress gala event, March 20, 2014.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that nuclear
negotiations with Iran should be given a chance and warned Congress against
imposing new sanctions.
Clinton, speaking Wednesday night at an American Jewish Congress gala in New
York after receving a lifetime achievement award, credited international
sanctions that she worked to implement with bringing Iran to the negotiating
table. She stressed the importance of pursuing the current multinational talks
aimed at reaching an agreement with Iran over its nuclear program.
“Now, the odds of reaching that comprehensive agreement are not good.
President Obama has said that,” Clinton said at the dinner, where she was
presented with AJCongress’ Stephen S. Wise Award. “I’m also personally skeptical
that the Iranians would follow through and deliver. I have seen their behavior
over years. But this is a development that is worth testing.”
Clinton, who is considered a likely 2016 presidential frontrunner, focused
her speech on the Iranian nuclear issue and the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process. On both fronts, she said, “the status quo is unsustainable.”
In her half-hour address, Clinton pointed to her experience as secretary of
state in building international support for Iran sanctions and in bringing
Israeli and Palestinian leaders together.
“It was clear to me that Prime Minister Netanyahu had a deep commitment to
testing whether it was possible to create the conditions for peace,” she said,
referring to her meetings with the Israeli leader. “He made some unprecedented
moves during my four years which convinced me that he was willing to have the
substantive conversations that are required for such a difficult undertaking.”
She praised her successor, Secretary of State John Kerry, as a “forceful
advocate” for the peace process.
Clinton reiterated her support for the Obama administration’s stance that
Congress should refrain from imposing new sanctions on Iran while nuclear talks
are underway.
“If the world judges, fairly or unfairly, that negotiations have collapsed
because of actions by our Congress, even some of our closest partners will
falter,” Clinton said.
She said that if diplomacy ultimately fails, “then we can always — and we
will — put on additional sanctions. And we will have the international support
necessary to ensure enforcement. And, yes, we will explore every other option.
And let’s be clear, every other option does remain on the table.”
Clinton was introduced at the gala by actress Julianna Margulies, star of
CBS’ “The Good Wife,” and by AJCongress’ president, Jack Rosen.
AJCongress, a storied Jewish advocacy group, suspended its operations in 2010
after suffering massive losses from Bernard Madoff’s financial fraud. Over the
past year, Rosen, a businessman, prominent political donor and longtime
AJCongress leader, has worked with a board that includes his sons to reorganize
the group. The reorganization has drawn criticism from some of the group’s past
activists.
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