[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 161 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5713-S5714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  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:

                              S. Res. 709

       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

[[Page S5714]]

     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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