[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 159 (Tuesday, September 15, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5602-S5603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                            Abraham Accords

  Mr. MORAN. Madam President, earlier today at the White House, 
President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and 
the Foreign Ministers from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to sign 
the Abraham Accords.
  These historic agreements began the process of normalizing 
relationships between the two Gulf countries and the Jewish state. 
After seven decades of isolation in the region, the Abraham Accords 
signify Israel's existence is finally being accepted by Arab countries, 
opening new prospects for greater economic, security, and cultural 
cooperation that will benefit all--those in the region and all of us 
around the world.
  I commend President Trump, Secretary Pompeo, and many others in this 
administration for facilitating this historic agreement and advancing 
the cause of peace and prosperity in the region. This came to many of 
us as a surprise, but it is a welcome surprise. I am very pleased at 
this development.
  Over the past several years, the President and Secretary have 
cultivated relationships in Jerusalem, Abu Dhabi, and Manama. And for 
longer than that, Israel and Arab countries have cooperated on 
important matters but behind closed doors. Capitalizing on a changing 
Middle East, President Trump and his administration helped shepherd 
these relationships into the open.
  Today's signing is just a beginning for the three countries and the 
region as a whole. More work, obviously, is to be done, and no 
agreement can be easily accomplished. But my hope is that more Arab 
countries will follow the path of publicly recognizing Israel. Eighteen 
Arab states have yet to make this move, preventing relationships that 
can benefit the entire region.
  Israel's right to exist is unquestionable, and to refuse to recognize 
this is to deny reality. I, along with so many other Members of this 
Chamber, have worked to ensure Israel's security and prosperity. With 
more days like today, we can hope for a region that is secure and 
prosperous as well for all.
  I use this opportunity to commend this accomplishment, and I hope 
that we are able to bring more peace and stability to this region and 
to the rest of the world.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.

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