Overwhelming bipartisan majority support the Abraham Accords
91 Senators have cosponsored the Senate version of the resolution, which congratulates the governments and people of Israel, the UAE and Bahrain on reaching these historic agreements.
By OMRI NAHMIASHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) administers the oath of office to House members and delegates of the U.S. House of Representatives at the start of the 116th Congress inside the House Chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2019(photo credit: KEVIN LAMARQUE/REUTERS)
WASHINGTON – An overwhelming majority of both chambers of Congress have introduced resolutions in support of the Abraham Accords, which normalize ties between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) announced Wednesday.Ninety-one senators co-sponsored a Senate version of the resolution, which congratulates the governments and people of Israel, the UAE and Bahrain on reaching historic agreements. It 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.”The resolution also encourages other Arab nations to establish full relations with Israel with the vision of realizing full peace between Israel and all its Arab neighbors.The list of cosponsors was not final, and more members might add their names, AIPAC said.Senate Resolution 709 was introduced by Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Todd Young (R-Indiana) and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland).As of Wednesday, on the Democratic side, vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders had not signed as co-sponsors. On the Republican side, Sen. Ted Cruz had not signed as a co-sponsor.“AIPAC commends the overwhelming bipartisan majorities in the Senate and the House that have currently cosponsored resolutions supporting the historic peace agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain,” the pro-Israel lobby said in a statement.A similar measure was introduced in the House by Eliot Engel (D-New York), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Max Rose (D-New York) and Lee Zeldin (R-New York). This resolution, sponsored by 372 representatives, voices support for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the two Gulf states and calls on other Arab and Muslim countries to establish full relations with Israel.It also “reaffirms strong support for the legal requirement that US arms sales may not adversely affect Israel’s ability to defend itself” and its “strong support for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”As of Wednesday, 40 Democratic and 23 Republican members of the House had not signed as co-sponsors. Among the Democrats were Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.
