Schumer says Jewish and American interests on Iran deal differ but he has "to do what's right for U.S."

"If you are president of the United States, president of one of the European countries, or an American, an average American, you say that's pretty good to me...

"But because a nuclear Iran is an existential threat to Israel, if you're prime minister of Israel or an Israeli citizen or for that matter an American Jew or at least some American Jews, many, you say I can't live with a 5 percent chance that Israel will be annihilated... So there is a basic difference in viewpoint."

Jews have to stand up for that different viewpoint, he said. Because in part for fear of being accused of dual loyalty, the American Jewish community "ignored the threat of Hitler, or pushed it aside -- never mind, he's just a maniac. And of course look what happened." He said the New York Times covered up "the initial acts of depravity in Germany" because it didn't want to be accused of dual loyalty.

For related reasons, Schumer doesn't trust the Europeans.

"Make no mistake about it, while the US sanctions are the toughest and most important, if the Europeans leave, and -- it so bothers me to have the Jewish fate in European hands. People say have to please the French the Germans and the British. And then I tell them, we've been through this before, the Jewish people, of leaving our fate in the hands of Europeans."

He said anti-Semitism in Europe is equivalent to "racist anti-black sentiment" in America, it is deeply engrained.

Schumer said he is being very skeptical about the agreement as it moves forward, but he faulted Netanyahu for his obstructionist approach.

"I have to tell you the day that Prime Minister Netanyahu came out, the day after the interim agreement. He made a mistake. He made a number of mistakes. Because no one thought he -- He should have said, I have five or ten questions, I'm going to judge it on how those questions are answered."

Schumer then listed the questions he has. All are extremely detailed. First, what is the exact character of the inspection regime? Second, what actions cause the sanctions to be lifted? Third, Let's say the sanctions are lifted, what are the snapback provisions; does the US need the allies or the UN to agree with us, or can the US restore sanctions on its own. Fourth, What are the inspections allowed on military sites? One is the size of Rhode Island. Fifth, what happens to the $100 billion that's "sitting there" in frozen Iranian accounts because of the sanctions? Sixth, 10,000 kilograms of uranium goes down to what number, 300; and how much goes to Russia?

The senator has 14 pages of questions, he said, and has had five hours of briefings with top officials. He made it clear that the Jewish group would learn what he learns.

"As I said, this is one of the most important decisions that I will ever make, as an American, as well as someone who tries to be a Shomer Yisrael. I'm spending much time on this, I'm talking to everyone, obviously including the administration and the prime minister of Israel. I'm talking to some very smart people on the other side. Bougi Herzog and [Amos] Yadlin, who was going to be the defense minister [in a Herzog led government], who's very smart about these things...

"I spent some time with Dr. Kissinger. I'm spending time with experts.

"It's a serious decision, and I'm an elected official 41 years. When you have the toughest decisions, you don't let politics interfere, you don't let party interfere, you don't let pressure interfere, you do the right thing as best you can. That's my promise to you. I assure you that's what I'm going to do. It's momentous times, ladies and gentlemen, momentous momentous times. The more I learn the more I'll tell you."

Thanks to Scott Roth