A 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.

III 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. KLO- BUCHAR, 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) sub- mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 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. VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:03 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\SR709.IS SR709 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 709 IS Whereas President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Ben- jamin 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 Emir- ates; Whereas President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Ben- jamin Netanyahu of Israel, and King Hamad al Khalifa of Bahrain, announced on September 11, 2020, an agree- ment 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 ex- change 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 inno- vation, 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 inte- gration, and closer security coordination; Whereas Israel and the United Arab Emirates will partner with the United States to launch a Strategic Agenda for VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:03 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR709.IS SR709 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 709 IS 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 establish- ment 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 be- tween these two dynamic societies and advanced econo- mies will continue the positive transformation of the Mid- dle 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 re- gion by spurring economic growth, enhancing techno- logical innovation, and forging closer people-to-people re- lations; Whereas these historic agreements could help advance peace between Israel and other Arab nations and further diplo- matic openings throughout the region; Whereas, in 2019, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahan proclaimed the year 2019 ‘‘the Year of Toler- ance’’ 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:03 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR709.IS SR709 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 709 IS Whereas these agreements build upon the decades-long lead- ership 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 Pal- estinians; 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 (1) congratulates the Governments and people 2 of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the King- 3 dom of Bahrain on reaching these historic agree- 4 ments; 5 (2) encourages other Arab nations to establish 6 full relations with Israel with the vision of realizing 7 full peace between Israel and all of its Arab neigh- 8 bors; and 9 (3) reaffirms its strong support for a negotiated 10 solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting 11 in two states—a democratic Jewish State of Israel 12 and a viable, democratic Palestinian state—living 13 side-by-side in peace, security, and mutual recogni- 14 tion. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:03 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR709.IS SR709 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS