Wagner, McMorris Rodgers offer celebrate Abraham Accords anniversary

U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner (R-MO) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), co-chairs of the bipartisan Abraham Accords Caucus, proposed a resolution to commemorate the second anniversary of the signing of the accords declaration, a series of joint normalization statements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain to maintain and strengthen peace in the Middle East. 

The United States mediated the Abraham Accords and hosted the signing ceremony in September 2020. Since then, Morocco and Sudan also have signed on to the accords, as well, according to the text of House Resolution (H.Res.) 1359, which the congresswomen introduced on Sept. 15 along with their fellow caucus co-chairs U.S. Reps. David Trone (D-MD) and Brad Schneider (D-IL).

“The accords have become a pillar of stability in the Middle East, and they have advanced our commitment to supporting our partners in the region,” Rep. Wagner said. “It remains critical we work with our Israeli and Arab partners to combat extremism in the region and build on President Trump’s efforts to create economic opportunities and advance U.S. national security interests.”

If enacted, H.Res. 1359 would resolve that the U.S. House of Representatives also reaffirm the enduring and ironclad alliance between the U.S. and Israel, and that the U.S. prioritize the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords by encouraging other countries to normalize relations with Israel and work to ensure that existing agreements reap tangible security and economic benefits for the citizens of those countries, according to the bill’s text.

Additionally, the U.S., along with other signatory countries of the Abraham Accords, should promote and develop new areas of regional collaboration, including maritime security, defense cooperation, clean energy initiatives, water security initiatives, and direct flights; and build on the accords to help advance prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, make tangible improvements in the lives of the Palestinian people, and make progress toward a negotiated solution that ensures mutual recognition, the text says.

“Two years ago… the United States made historic progress towards achieving peace in the Middle East with the signing of the Abraham Accords Declaration. This long sought-after agreement marked the beginning of a new journey together in pursuit of creating a better, safer, and more prosperous world for our children and grandchildren,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “Today, I can say with confidence that we are making great progress thanks to the tremendous work of our international partners and the work of my colleagues on the Abraham Accords Caucus on Capitol Hill. 

“We are making significant strides to uphold and promote the values of human dignity, freedom, and hope around the world,” she added. “I am proud of our work to this point and believe the best is yet to come.”

Reps. McMorris Rodgers, Wagner, Schneider, and Trone in January joined a bipartisan group of senators to launch the Abraham Accords Caucuses, which provide members of Congress an opportunity to help strengthen the agreements of current Abraham Accords countries and expand the declaration to new countries that do not currently have diplomatic relations with Israel.