AIPAC activists descend on Capitol Hill

• Tweet

WASHINGTON, March 23 (UPI) -- Thousands of activists from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee headed for Capitol Hill Tuesday to lobby U.S. congressional members and their staffs.

High on AIPAC's agenda is stopping Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability, the organization said on its Web site.

The delegates, in Washington for AIPAC's annual policy conference, will ask members of Congress to send letters to President Barack Obama, urging him to use his authority to sanction Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, isolate Iran's banking system and limit Iran's ability to import refined petroleum, among other measures to protest Iran's nuclear aspirations.

While attending meetings on the Hill, AIPAC activists also will ask their members of Congress to sign letters to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urging her to reaffirm the strong U.S.-Israeli relationship and calling for differences between the two nations be resolved amicably.

Israel's recent announcement to build new housing units in east Jerusalem prompted criticism from Washington as harmful to the peace process in the Middle East.

Lastly, AIPAC activists will ask their congressional delegations to support $3 billion in security assistance to Israel as part of the fiscal year 2011 budget, the group said.