[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 144 (Monday, August 9, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 344--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL 
            JOINING THE AFRICAN UNION UNDER OBSERVER STATUS

  Mr. INHOFE (for himself and Mr. Rounds) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 344

       Whereas the State of Israel enjoyed observer status in the 
     predecessor organization to the African Union known as the 
     Organization of African Unity until its dissolution in 2002;
       Whereas the late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi blocked 
     Israel from obtaining observer status at the African Union in 
     2002;
       Whereas Israel, in the span of a few decades, has emerged 
     as a developed nation and therefore offers an example of a 
     path to economic progress for developing countries;
       Whereas Israel has long been an active and valuable partner 
     to many African nations, cultivating numerous strong 
     bilateral relationships across the continent;
       Whereas Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a historic 
     visit to Africa in July 2016 and became the first leader 
     outside of Africa to address the Economic Community of West 
     African States (ECOWAS) in June 2017;
       Whereas many African leaders subsequently visited Israel, 
     including those from the Republic of Chad, the Kingdom of 
     Eswatini, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the 
     Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire, the 
     Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of 
     Sierra Leone, the Togolese Republic, and the Republic of 
     Zambia;
       Whereas the Abraham Accords paved the way for further 
     normalization agreements between Israel and other nations;
       Whereas Israel has supported African nations through 
     economic investments and humanitarian assistance; and
       Whereas, on July 22, 2021, the African Union announced that 
     Israel will join the African Union under observer status: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) encourages heightened cooperation between the State of 
     Israel and African nations, particularly in areas that are 
     significant in progress towards the implementation of the 
     Sustainable Development Goals, such as economic growth, 
     sustainable agriculture, and humanitarian development;
       (2) expects Israel's observer status in the African Union 
     will help enable such cooperation to develop between Israel 
     and the African Union;
       (3) commends the African Union for granting Israel observer 
     status in the African Union; and
       (4) thanks Felix Tshisekedi, the President of the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chair of the African 
     Union, for his leadership in strengthening Israel-African 
     relations by ensuring the recognition of Israel under 
     observer status occurred during his tenure as Chair of the 
     African Union.

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