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. KLOBUCHAR, 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. HYDESMITH, Ms. ERNST, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. PAUL, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) submitted 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. 


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•SRES 709 IS 

Whereas President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin 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 Emirates; 

Whereas President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and King Hamad al Khalifa 

of Bahrain, announced on September 11, 2020, an agreement 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 exchange 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 innovation, 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 integration, and closer security coordination; 

Whereas Israel and the United Arab Emirates will partner 

with the United States to launch a Strategic Agenda for 


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•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 establishment 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 between these two dynamic societies and advanced economies will continue the positive transformation of the Middle 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 region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations; 

Whereas these historic agreements could help advance peace 

between Israel and other Arab nations and further diplomatic openings throughout the region; 

Whereas, in 2019, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al 

Nahan proclaimed the year 2019 ‘‘the Year of Tolerance’’ 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; 


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•SRES 709 IS 

Whereas these agreements build upon the decades-long leadership 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 Palestinians; 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the Governments and people 

3 of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the King4 dom of Bahrain on reaching these historic agree5 ments; 

6 (2) encourages other Arab nations to establish 

7 full relations with Israel with the vision of realizing 

8 full peace between Israel and all of its Arab neigh9 bors; and 

10 (3) reaffirms its strong support for a negotiated 

11 solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resulting 

12 in two states—a democratic Jewish State of Israel 

13 and a viable, democratic Palestinian state—living 

14 side-by-side in peace, security, and mutual recogni15 tion. 

Æ 


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