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on the hill

Senate resolution lauding Abraham Accords gains vast backing

More than 90 senators have signed on as cosponsors of the legislation

Andrew Hart

Capitol Hill

A Senate resolution praising the recent normalization agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is gaining broad bipartisan support.

The resolution, introduced September 17 by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), has been cosponsored by 91 senators as of Wednesday morning, according to an AIPAC list tracking the legislation’s backers

The resolution praises the normalization agreements as “historic achievements” which open up new possibilities in the fields of tourism, business, security and culture. It also reaffirms the Senate’s support for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The legislation remains open for additional signatures, but as of Wednesday morning, eight Democrats and one Republican had yet to sign on to the legislation, according to the AIPAC list, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).

None of the nine senators who have not cosponsored the resolution responded to Jewish Insider’s requests for comment.

The Senate resolution is similar to a bipartisan House resolution, introduced September 15, which has also gained broad support. While the House resolution emphasizes the need to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge, and praises the suspension of Israeli annexation, the Senate resolution does not address either issue.

At least 372 members of the House had signed on to the House resolution as of Wednesday morning, according to AIPAC.

According to the AIPAC list, 40 Democrats, 23 Republicans and one Libertarian had not signed on as of Wednesday morning, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Steve King (R-IA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA). 

However, multiple members of Congress, including Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), who were listed as not having sponsored the legislation have now done so, spokespeople told JI.

None of the aforementioned representatives responded to JI’s requests for comment.

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