[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 709 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 709

   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the August 13, 2020, and 
    September 11, 2020, announcements of the establishment of full 
 diplomatic relations between the State of Israel and the United Arab 
    Emirates and the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain are 
                         historic achievements.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 17, 2020

   Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Young, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
 Cramer, Mr. Coons, Mr. Blunt, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Blumenthal, 
Mr. Perdue, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Reed, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Kaine, 
 Mrs. Blackburn, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Moran, 
   Mr. Bennet, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Casey, Mr. Romney, Mr. Jones, Mr. 
 Sullivan, Mr. Warner, Mr. Hawley, Mr. King, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Schatz, 
   Mr. Braun, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. McSally, Ms. Smith, Mr. Thune, Ms. 
  Sinema, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Booker, Mr. 
  Johnson, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Lankford, Mrs. Loeffler, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. 
Boozman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Ms. 
Ernst, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Paul, and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Senate that the August 13, 2020, and 
    September 11, 2020, announcements of the establishment of full 
 diplomatic relations between the State of Israel and the United Arab 
    Emirates and the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain are 
                         historic achievements.

Whereas President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, 
        and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy 
        Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates, announced on August 13, 
        2020, an agreement on the full normalization of relations between Israel 
        and the United Arab Emirates;
Whereas President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, 
        and King Hamad al Khalifa of Bahrain, announced on September 11, 2020, 
        an agreement on the full normalization of relations between Israel and 
        the Kingdom of Bahrain;
Whereas the United Arab Emirates is the first Gulf Arab state to announce formal 
        relations with Israel, followed closely by Bahrain;
Whereas, under each agreement, the two countries agree to the establishment of 
        reciprocal embassies and the exchange of Ambassadors;
Whereas opening direct ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates could 
        begin to transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing 
        technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations;
Whereas the agreements could promote investment, tourism, direct flights, 
        security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, 
        and the environment;
Whereas the United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates share a 
        commitment to promoting stability through diplomatic engagement, 
        increased economic integration, and closer security coordination;
Whereas Israel and the United Arab Emirates will partner with the United States 
        to launch a Strategic Agenda for the Middle East to expand diplomatic, 
        trade, and security cooperation;
Whereas President Donald J. Trump, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al-
        Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 
        of Israel announced on September 11, 2020, the establishment of full 
        diplomatic relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain;
Whereas the United States, Bahrain, and Israel said in a joint statement that 
        ``opening direct dialogue and ties between these two dynamic societies 
        and advanced economies will continue the positive transformation of the 
        Middle East and increase stability, security, and prosperity in the 
        region'';
Whereas opening direct ties between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and 
        Bahrain could begin to transform the region by spurring economic growth, 
        enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people 
        relations;
Whereas these historic agreements could help advance peace between Israel and 
        other Arab nations and further diplomatic openings throughout the 
        region;
Whereas, in 2019, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahan proclaimed the 
        year 2019 ``the Year of Tolerance'' in the United Arab Emirates and also 
        established the Abrahamic House of Fraternity as a project designed to 
        promote religious diversity and tolerance;
Whereas support for peace between Israel and her neighbors has longstanding 
        bipartisan support in Congress and among the American people;
Whereas these agreements build upon the decades-long leadership of the United 
        States in helping Israel broker peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan and 
        promoting peace talks between Israel and Syria, Lebanon, and the 
        Palestinians; and
Whereas the parties pledged to continue their efforts to achieve a just, 
        comprehensive, and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian 
        conflict: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the Governments and people of Israel, the 
        United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain on reaching 
        these historic agreements;
            (2) encourages other Arab nations to establish full 
        relations with Israel with the vision of realizing full peace 
        between Israel and all of its Arab neighbors; and
            (3) reaffirms its strong support for a negotiated solution 
        to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting in two states--a 
        democratic Jewish State of Israel and a viable, democratic 
        Palestinian state--living side-by-side in peace, security, and 
        mutual recognition.
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