Why Did the US Ask Jewish Organizations to Stop Lobbying?

An off-the-record meeting took place at the White House last week that is now very much on record, whereby four top leaders of American Jewish organizations met with National Security Adviser Susan Rice and other officials. The topic of the meeting seems to be about persuading these pro-Israel bodies to cease their lobbying of elected representatives to Congress regarding sanctions against Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran is motoring along with its nuclear program while the White House would like to try diplomacy. Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has been crystal clear about the existential threat of the Iranian nuclear program and considers it the single greatest concern for Israel and the world.

So I’m confused.

What happened behind the closed doors of the White House last week? How did it come to be revealed yesterday? How does a democracy ask anyone to stop lobbying—and especially the leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the American Jewish Committee, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Anti-Defamation League?

Help me to understand.

By the way, AIPAC declared it would not stop lobbying for Iran sanctions. 

We live in confusing times. Let me know if you have answers.

Blessings from Israel.