McCaul, Engel, Zeldin, and Rose Offer Legislation Supporting Israel’s Normalization of Relations with UAE and Bahrain
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Michael McCaul, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Representative Eliot L. Engel, the Committee’s Chairman, and Representatives Lee Zeldin and Max Rose this week introduced legislation supporting the landmark normalization agreements between the State of Israel and the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan resolution with Chairman Engel recognizing these historic accomplishments,” stated Lead Republican Michael McCaul. “The recent diplomatic agreements between Israel and UAE and Israel and Bahrain are transformational developments for the Middle East. We all agree that building relationships between our partners is a major win for U.S. national interests. I thank the Administration for brokering these landmark deals and I was proud to be at the White House for the signing ceremony.”
“Peace between Israel and its neighbors has long-standing bipartisan support in Congress and among the American people, and I am hopeful that these agreements can pave the way for future peace and normalization between Israel and other Arab and Muslim countries. These agreements build upon the decades-long leadership of the United States and follow years of diplomacy between the United States, Israel, and other partners encouraging cooperation between Israel and Gulf countries. I’m proud to join Representatives McCaul, Zeldin and Rose to introduce this resolution conveying bipartisan support for these efforts,” said Chairman Engel.
“The United States and world are safer when America effectively leads on the world stage, and these historic agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain forward the cause of peace and security in the Middle East and represent real progress in this centuries-long mission,” said Congressman Lee Zeldin. “Allowing travel, commerce, the exchange of embassies and ambassadors, and far more will establish a bilateral relationship between Israel and these countries that will lead the way for other regional powers to do the same and push back on Iranian aggression in the region and around the world.”
“The signing of the Abraham Accords is a truly historic event and I applaud the courage of the President and all those who worked to make it happen,” Rep. Max Rose said. “I hope that this signals the beginning of a more secure, prosperous, and tolerant Middle East, and I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to fulfill the aspirations of these Accords.”
The resolution supports the normalization agreements; calls for further people-to-people diplomacy to ensure the sustainability of these agreements; calls on other Arab and Muslim states to support normalization and peace with Israel; reiterates the House’s support for U.S. law related to Israel’s qualitative military edge; and 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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