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Obama appeals to U.S. Jewish groups for Iran support

By Amy R. Connolly
United States President Barack Obama arrives to make remarks welcoming the 2014 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury to the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Aug. 26, 2015. Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI
United States President Barack Obama arrives to make remarks welcoming the 2014 WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury to the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on Aug. 26, 2015. Photo by Ron Sachs/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama will reach out to the American Jewish community Friday for support of the Iran nuclear deal, days before Congress returns from recess to vote on the historic accord.

Obama will deliver remarks and take questions on a live webcast at 2:10 p.m. ET to allay concerns over the agreement, which places limits on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for loosening economic sanctions against the country. This comes agains the backdrop of a deeply divided Jewish American community, with opponents saying the mechanism is not strong enough to ensure Tehran will not cheat the system and does nothing to address Iranian human rights violations and terrorism.

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"Within our movement, we have people who are absolutely opposed and those for ... who will be sitting next to one another at High Holy Day services" next month, said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, which has taken a neutral position on the Iran deal.

Wednesday, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said it is unlikely Congress will be able to block the agreement given growing support from Senate Democrats.

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According to The Hill's Whip List, 30 Democratic senators publicly support the deal, putting Obama close to the 34 Senate votes he needs to uphold a veto of any resolution to kill the deal.

Congress is expected to return from recess on Sept. 8 and has until Sept. 17 to vote.

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