[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
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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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