Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2748 To encourage the normalization of relations with Israel, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 21, 2021 Mr. SCHNEIDER (for himself, Mrs. WAGNER, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Mr. MEIJER, Mr. MEEKS, and Mr. MCCAUL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To encourage the normalization of relations with Israel, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Israel Relations Nor- 4 malization Act of 2021’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 (1) Support for peace between Israel and its 8 neighbors has longstanding bipartisan support in 9 Congress. 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2748 IH (2) For decades, the United States Congress 1 has promoted Israel’s acceptance among Arab states 2 and other relevant countries and regions and has en- 3 acted numerous laws opposing efforts to boycott, iso- 4 late, and stigmatize America’s ally, Israel. 5 (3) The recent peace and normalization agree- 6 ments between Israel and several Arab states—the 7 United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Mo- 8 rocco—have the potential to fundamentally trans- 9 form the security, diplomatic, and economic environ- 10 ment in the Middle East and North Africa and ad- 11 vance vital United States national security interests. 12 (4) These agreements build upon the decades- 13 long leadership of the United States Government 14 and other governments in helping Israel broker 15 peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan and promoting 16 peace talks between Israel and Syria, Lebanon, and 17 the Palestinians. 18 (5) These agreements also build on decades 19 long private diplomatic and security engagement be- 20 tween Israel and countries in the region. 21 (6) These normalization and peace agreements 22 could begin to transform the region by spurring eco- 23 nomic growth, enhancing technological innovation, 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2748 IH advancing understanding, and forging closer people- 1 to-people relations. 2 (7) These agreements have the potential to pro- 3 mote investment, tourism, and direct flights, and 4 promote cooperation on security, telecommuni- 5 cations, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the 6 environment, water security and sustainable develop- 7 ment. 8 SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 9 It is the policy of the United States— 10 (1) to expand and strengthen the Abraham Ac- 11 cords to encourage other nations to normalize rela- 12 tions with Israel and ensure that existing agree- 13 ments reap tangible security and economic benefits 14 for the citizens of those countries; 15 (2) to develop and implement a regional strat- 16 egy to encourage economic cooperation among Israel, 17 Arab states, and the Palestinians to enhance the 18 prospects for regional peace, respect for human 19 rights, transparent governance, and cooperation to 20 address water scarcity, climate solutions, health 21 care, sustainable development, and other areas that 22 result in benefits for residents of those countries; 23 (3) to develop and implement a regional secu- 24 rity strategy that recognizes the shared threat posed 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 2748 IH by Iran and violent extremist organizations, ensures 1 sufficient United States deterrence in the region, 2 builds partner capacity to address shared threats, 3 and explores multilateral security arrangements built 4 around like-minded partners; 5 (4) to support and encourage government-to- 6 government and grassroots initiatives aimed at nor- 7 malizing ties with the state of Israel and promoting 8 people-to-people contact between Israelis, Arabs, and 9 peoples from other countries and regions, including 10 by expanding and enhancing the Abraham Accords; 11 (5) to continue to support a negotiated solution 12 to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting in two 13 states—a democratic Jewish state of Israel and a 14 viable democratic Palestinian state—living side by 15 side in peace, security, and mutual recognition; 16 (6) to implement the Nita M. Lowey Middle 17 East Partnership for Peace Act of 2020 (title VIII 18 of division K of Public Law 116–260), which sup- 19 ports economic cooperation and peacebuilding efforts 20 among Israelis and Palestinians; 21 (7) to oppose efforts to delegitimize the state of 22 Israel and legal barriers to normalization of relations 23 with Israel; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 2748 IH (8) to work to combat anti-Semitism and sup- 1 port normalization of relations with Israel, including 2 by countering anti-Semitic narratives on social 3 media and state media and pressing for educational 4 curriculum reform; and 5 (9) to encourage partnerships and collaboration 6 on climate solutions, water, health, sustainable de- 7 velopment, and other areas. 8 SEC. 4. UNITED STATES STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN AND 9 EXPAND ABRAHAM ACCORDS AND OTHER 10 NORMALIZATION AGREEMENTS WITH ISRAEL. 11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 12 date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 13 the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Adminis- 14 trator of the United States Agency for International De- 15 velopment, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of 16 other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, shall 17 develop and submit to the appropriate congressional com- 18 mittees a strategy on expanding and strengthening the 19 Abraham Accords. 20 (b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required under sub- 21 section (a) shall also include each of the following ele- 22 ments: 23 (1) An assessment of future staffing and 24 resourcing requirements of entities within the De- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 2748 IH partment of State, the United States Agency for 1 International Development, the Department of De- 2 fense, and other appropriate Federal departments 3 and agencies with responsibility to coordinate United 4 States efforts to expand and strengthen the Abra- 5 ham Accords. 6 (2) An assessment of the bilateral and multilat- 7 eral cooperation between Israel, Arab states, and 8 other relevant countries and regions that have nor- 9 malized relations with Israel, including an assess- 10 ment of cooperation in the economic, social, cultural, 11 scientific, technical, educational, and health fields 12 and an assessment of roadblocks to increased co- 13 operation. 14 (3) An assessment of bilateral and multilateral 15 security cooperation between Israel, the United 16 States, Arab states, and other relevant countries and 17 regions that have normalized relations with Israel, 18 including potential roadblocks to increased security 19 cooperation, interoperability, and information shar- 20 ing. 21 (4) An assessment of the likelihood of addi- 22 tional Arab states and other relevant countries and 23 regions to normalize relations with Israel. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 2748 IH (5) An assessment of opportunities created by 1 normalization agreements with Israel to advance 2 prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestin- 3 ians. 4 (6) A detailed description of how the United 5 States Government will leverage diplomatic lines of 6 effort and resources from other stakeholders (includ- 7 ing from foreign governments, international donors, 8 and multilateral institutions) to encourage normal- 9 ization, economic development, and people-to-people 10 programming. 11 (c) FORM.— 12 (1) UNCLASSIFIED MATTER.—Subject to para- 13 graph (2), the report required by subsection (a) and 14 each of the elements described in paragraphs (1) 15 through (5) of subsection (b) shall be submitted in 16 unclassified form. 17 (2) CLASSIFIED ANNEX.—The report required 18 by subsection (a) shall also include a classified 19 annex, transmitted separately, that contains only the 20 matter included in the report pursuant to paragraph 21 (6) of subsection (b). 22 (d) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES 23 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con- 24 gressional committees’’ means— 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 2748 IH (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 1 Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee 2 on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; 3 and 4 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 5 Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee 6 on Appropriations of the Senate. 7 SEC. 5. REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO PRO- 8 MOTE NORMALIZATION. 9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the 10 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 11 in coordination with the Administrator of the United 12 States Agency for International Development and the 13 heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, 14 shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 15 committees regarding options for United States inter- 16 national efforts to promote strengthening of ties between 17 Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and re- 18 gions. 19 (b) ELEMENTS.—The report required under sub- 20 section (a) shall also include each of the following ele- 21 ments: 22 (1) A description of options for leveraging con- 23 tributions of international donors, institutions, and 24 partner countries to facilitate people-to-people and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 2748 IH government-to-government relations between Israelis 1 and Arabs. 2 (2) Identification of existing relevant invest- 3 ment funds that support Israel-Arab state coopera- 4 tion and recommendations for how such funds could 5 be used to support normalization and increase pros- 6 perity for all relevant stakeholders. 7 (3) An assessment for creating an Abrahamic 8 Center for Pluralism to prepare educational mate- 9 rials, convene international seminars, promote toler- 10 ance and pluralism, and bring together scholars as 11 a means of advancing religious tolerance and coun- 12 tering political and religious extremism. 13 (4) An assessment of the benefit to Israel and 14 its neighbors of participating in a regional con- 15 ference on climate solutions, water, health, and sus- 16 tainable development. 17 (5) An assessment of the feasibility and benefit 18 of increasing the capacity of existing Department of 19 State and United States Agency for International 20 Development-funded programs for developing people- 21 to-people exchange programs for young people be- 22 tween Israel, Arab states, and other relevant coun- 23 tries and regions. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 2748 IH (6) Recommendations to improve Department 1 of State cooperation and coordination, particularly 2 between the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat 3 Anti-Semitism, the Ambassador at Large for Inter- 4 national Religious Freedom, and the Director of the 5 Office of International Religious Freedom, to combat 6 the racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and anti-Sem- 7 itism that hinder improvement of relations between 8 Israel, Arab states, and other relevant countries and 9 regions. 10 (7) A proposal for the manner in which the 11 United States Government and others can use exist- 12 ing Federal resources to counter Holocaust denial 13 and anti-Semitism abroad. 14 (8) An assessment of the value and feasibility 15 of Federal support for inter-parliamentary exchange 16 programs among Members of Congress, of the 17 Knesset, and parliamentarians from Arab states and 18 other relevant countries and regions, including 19 through existing Federal programs that support 20 such exchanges. 21 (c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.— 22 In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- 23 mittees’’ means— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 2748 IH (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 1 Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep- 2 resentatives; and 3 (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 4 the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 5 SEC. 6. BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO NORMALIZATION 6 WITH ISRAEL. 7 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 8 ‘‘Strengthening Reporting of Actions Taken Against the 9 Normalization of Relations with Israel Act of 2021’’. 10 (b) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find- 11 ings: 12 (1) The Arab League, an organization com- 13 prising 22 Middle Eastern and African countries 14 and entities, has maintained an official boycott of 15 Israeli companies and Israeli-made goods since the 16 founding of Israel in 1948. 17 (2) Longstanding United States policy has en- 18 couraged Arab League states to normalize their rela- 19 tions with Israel and has long prioritized funding co- 20 operative programs that promote normalization be- 21 tween Arab League States and Israel, including the 22 Middle East Regional Cooperation program, which 23 promotes Arab-Israeli scientific cooperation. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:02 Jun 05, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2748.IH H2748 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 2748 IH (3) While some Arab League governments are 1 signaling enhanced cooperation with the state of 2 Israel on the government-to-government level, most 3 continue to persecute their own citizens who estab- 4 lish people-to-people relations with Israelis in non- 5 governmental fora, through a combination of judicial 6 and extrajudicial retribution. 7 (4) Some Arab League states maintain draco- 8 nian anti-normalization laws that punish their citi- 9 zens for people-to-people relations with Israelis, with 10 pu [Text truncated for display. 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