Grassley, Colleagues Push President Biden On Israel Normalization and Strengthening of Abraham Accords in Upcoming Middle East Visit

WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of President Biden’s visit to the Middle East, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), signed a bipartisan and bicameral letter urging the President to deepen and expand the Abraham Accords, and to condemn Iraq’s recent law criminalizing relations with Israel during his engagements with foreign leaders. The letter was led by Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Reps. Bradley Schneider (D-Ill.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), co-chairs of the Senate and House Abraham Accords Caucus.

 

This bipartisan letter was also signed by other members of the bipartisan and bicameral Abraham Accords Caucuses. From the Senate caucus, co-chair Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) along with Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.). From the House caucus, co-chair Reps. David Trone (D-Md.) and Ann Wagner (R-Mo) along with Reps. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.).

 

“As members of the bicameral Abraham Accords Caucuses, we write to ask you to use your forthcoming trip to Israel and the Middle East to build on your Administration’s support for the peace and normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. In less than two years, the Abraham Accords have already transformed the region: enhancing Israel’s security and acceptance, creating economic opportunities for Arab states, advancing American leadership in the Middle East, deepening security cooperation between the United States and CENTCOM partners and promoting interfaith and intercultural dialogue. While we celebrate these historic efforts, we also want to convey our disappointment and concern about the recently enacted Iraqi law that broadens the crime of normalizing relations with Israel,” the Members wrote.

 

“As you embark on travel to the Middle East later this month, we respectfully encourage you to raise Iraq’s anti-normalization law during your visits with foreign leaders and make clear the United States’ resolute condemnation,” the Members’ letter continued. “We also support your efforts during your trip to strengthen the existing Abraham Accords agreements and expand the agreements to additional countries. We appreciate your continued support of efforts that advance peace in the Middle East and hope you will place continued normalization of relations with Israel at the forefront of your agenda this month.”