US Congress
US CongressReuters

There are 18 Jewish legislators acting on behalf of the Democratic Party in the US Congress, and they are perhaps the key to victory on both sides - for both opponents of the agreement with Iran and its supporters.

"Everyone is looking for us," Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D - California), who is Jewish, told Arutz Sheva.  "Last week I met with a J Street lobby that tried to explain how good the agreement is at this point in time, and next week AIPAC officials will be here - I guess to push exactly the opposite position." 

Lowenthal faces a difficult dilemma. 

"You have to make a decision regarding the transaction, and the situation is very tense. On the one hand Israel says the deal is not good, on the other hand the president says so."

Alan Lowenthal and another 17 like him will be forced to make the painful decision between loyalty to Israel and loyalty to US President Barack Obama's Democratic party.

On one side is loyalty to Israel, which has rallied repeatedly against the agreement saying that it would jeopardize its security. On the other hand they are members of the party of the American president, who was an initiator of the deal with the government in Tehran and its enthusiastic supporter. 

Meanwhile, various lobbying groups are actively pursuing Jewish legislators, particularly groups aiming to rally opposition to the agreement.

The mad dash for support follows an expected showdown in Congress over the deal. 

Some Congressmen, particularly Republicans, have expressed their objection to the Iran deal - but the full text, and the way the President has handled the matter, has stoked controversy and outrage on both sides of the aisle

US Speaker of the House John Boehner vowed Wednesday to do "everything" in his power to combat the deal, which has faced criticism again and again for being too lax in its terms - both regarding the nuclear program itself and for allowing Iran to fund its terror network. 

President Barack Obama, however, has threatened to "veto any legislation" passed by Congress blocking the deal. Congress would need a 2/3 majority to overrule his veto.

A law signed by Obama in May gives Congress the power to review and potentially reject a nuclear deal with Iran, but in spite of his willingness to allow Congress to debate the agreement, Obama has asserted it would be "irresponsible" to object to the deal.