WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today introduced a bipartisan resolution congratulating the governments and people of Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Bahrain on the recently signed Abraham Accords.
The resolution:
“I congratulate the leaders and people of the Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for taking the courageous and historical step towards peace and cooperation,” said Senator Menendez. “The United States has long taken interest and initiative in helping broker peace, cooperation, and stability for people across the Middle East. Moreover, Congress has always played a key role in supporting Israel’s right to self-defense a, including protecting her Qualitative Military Edge. As we congratulate this move, we also look forward to a sustainable, two-state solution driven by Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace, prosperity, and dignity.“
“What incredible times we are living in,” said Senator Graham. “These agreements set the Middle East on a new course of cooperation and economic integration. These are breathtaking breakthroughs, which help bring stability to a troubled region and enhance the economies of Israel, UAE, and Bahrain. It will also hopefully set in motion the winding down of generational conflict between the Arab world and Israel. Going forward the biggest winners will be those who pursue peaceful coexistence in the Middle East. The prospects of a sustainable peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians just became more real. In addition, the United States will now have security arrangements never dreamed of before between Arab and Israeli partners and economic opportunities that benefit the American economy for generations.”
“These agreements between Israel, the UAE, and the Kingdom of Bahrain mark a historic step forward toward peace and stability in the Middle East,” said Senator Young. “These diplomatic achievements will expand economic opportunity, security partnerships, and work to counter the world’s leading state sponsor of terror - Iran. The U.S. stands by our friends and allies in Israel and we are glad to see the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain do the same.”
“The normalizing of relations between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain is historic and significant,” said Senator Cardin. “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution with my colleagues, which recognizes the magnitude of these agreements and their impact on regional stability and increased partnerships. I am hopeful these agreements will encourage further Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel and to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table in the pursuit of peace.”
The resolution has fifty-four cosponsors. They include Senators Cramer, Coons, Blunt, Rosen, Capito, Blumenthal, Perdue, Wyden, Barrasso, Reed, Grassley, Kaine, Blackburn, Stabenow, Hoven, Feinstein, Moran, Bennet, Alexander, Casey, Romney, Jones, Sullivan, Warner, Hawley, King, Gardner, Schatz, Braun, Klobuchar, McSally, Smith, Thune, Sinema, Wicker, Gillibrand, Fischer, Booker, Johnson, Murray, Lankford, Loeffler, Cassidy, Boozman, Collins, Scott (SC), Hyde-Smith, Ernst, Crapo, and Paul.
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