Israeli envoys in US, Canada meet to discuss Iran
Foreign Ministry director-general calls meeting with ambassadors, consul-generals in Washington to discuss PR, diplomatic efforts in face of nuclear threat
The special one-day conference, which was initiated by Abramovich, will also be attended by Israeli Ambassador to the US Salai Meridor, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Dan Gillerman, Israeli Ambassador to Canada Alan Baker and the consul-generals in the US and Canada.
Members of the diplomatic staff of the Israeli Embassy in Washington will also take part in the meeting.
The conference attendees will be briefed by the ambassadors and consuls on their activities in terms of the Iranian issue and will hold consultations on future activities.
"The Foreign Ministry engages in many diplomatic activities related to the Iranian issue, both through traditional diplomacy and in other ways, including among Congress members and governors," a ministry official said.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently declared that his state would cut all its ties with companies dealing with Iran. "California has a long history of leadership and doing the right thing with our investments," he said.
In September, the US Congress signaled its disapproval of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with a vote to tighten sanctions against his government and a call to designate his Revolutionary Guard a terrorist group.
The House passed, by a 397-16 vote, a proposal by Lantos, aimed at blocking foreign investment in Iran, in particular its lucrative energy sector. The bill would specifically bar the president from waiving US sanctions.
Current law imposes sanctions against any foreign company that invests $20 million or more in Iran's energy industry, although the US has waived or ignored sanction laws in exchange for European support on nonproliferation issues.
