Wagner, McMorris Rodgers, Ernst launch caucuses to bolster peace in the Middle East

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) on Monday launched bicameral, bipartisan congressional caucuses in their chambers that aim to strengthen and expand the historic Abraham Accords.

“The Abraham Accords Caucus is an incredibly important initiative that will bolster the United States’ commitment to peace in the Middle East,” Rep. Wagner said. “This caucus will build on the achievements of the Abraham Accords and promote stability in the region, counteract destructive regimes, and help maintain robust working relationships between our Israeli and Arab partners.”

Signed on Sept. 15, 2020, the accords have resulted in peace and normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco — enhancing Israel’s security, creating economic opportunities for Arab states, and advancing U.S. national security interests, according to information provided by the lawmakers.

“I can think of no better way to begin the new year than by reaffirming our commitment in Congress to supporting long-standing peace in the Middle East,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “The bipartisan, bicameral Abraham Accords Caucus will provide a unique opportunity for world leaders to come together in our common pursuit of creating a better, safer and more prosperous world for our children and grandchildren.”

The House Abraham Accords Caucus is co-chaired by Reps. Wagner and McMorris Rodgers, who are joined by U.S. Reps. David Trone (D-MD) and Brad Schneider (D-IL). Sen. Ernst co-chairs the Senate Abraham Accords Caucus alongside U.S. Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

“Finalizing the Abraham Accords was a historic step toward peace in the Middle East and welcome news, not only for our partners and allies in the region, but for the United States,” Sen. Ernst said. “We must continue these efforts to further our nation’s partnership with Israel and promote peace and prosperity, and I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in the Abraham Accords Caucus to do so.”

The caucus will encourage partnerships between the United States, Israel, Arab states, and other countries and regions, and will provide congressional leadership in promoting the benefits of normalizing relations with Israel, according to the lawmakers’ summary information.

The caucus has several duties, including to encourage and incentivize expansion of the Abraham Accords to include countries that do not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel, and to engage partner countries in multilateral efforts to promote the Abraham Accords, the information says.

Additionally, the caucus members will highlight the importance of the Abraham Accords in achieving lasting peace in the Middle East between Israel and its neighbors, including through a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ensures mutual recognition, freedom, security, and prosperity.

The caucus also will support and help encourage U.S. government investments in cooperative projects that further the Abraham Accords, and will serve as a forum for leaders in Abraham Accords countries and others to discuss the advancement of sustainable development partnerships in energy security, water infrastructure, biomedicine, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, according to the information.

The caucus is supported by the Atlantic Council, the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, Hadassah — The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, the U.S.-Israel Education Association, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Israel Policy Forum, CUFI Action, the Jewish Federations of North America, and B’nai B’rith International.