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...; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 161
(Senate - September 17, 2020)
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[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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