AIPAC panel lobbies on Iran

Executive members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbied Congress to pass Iran sanctions bills.

About 100 members of AIPAC's executive committee meeting in Washington this week pushed bills that would tighten existing sanctions, as well as enable state and local governments to divest from Iran.

Committee members also urged lawmakers to back Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas now that he has exiled Hamas from his government and sought support for $2.4 billion in defense assistance to Israel.

They were armed with lists of senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives who had yet to sponsor the Iran sanctions bills, as well as a recent House roll call on foreign aid. More than 160 Republicans voted against the foreign aid bill, which included the $2.4 billion for Israel, citing a desire to cut foreign aid in general.