May 3, 2021 — Washington, DC
In a joint letter to Representatives and Senators, American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Chief Rabbi in the United Arab Emirates are urging their support of the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021 (H.R.2748 and S.1061).
“The Abraham Accords offer a new vision for sustainable peace and cooperation across the region. We are confident these agreements, as they mature, will prove beneficial to Israel and its neighbors – and will advance the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace by combating violent extremism and rewarding trust, reciprocity, interdependence, and pragmatism,” wrote Jason F. Isaacson, AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, and Chief Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Jewish Council of the Emirates.
The full letters are below:
May 3, 2021
Dear Representative,
On behalf of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Office of the Chief Rabbi in the United Arab Emirates, we urge your support of H.R.2748, the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021. This bipartisan bill, introduced by Representatives Garcia (D-TX), McCaul (R-TX), Meeks (D-NY), Meijer (R-MI), Schneider (D-IL), and Wagner (R-MO), affirms that U.S. policy is to strengthen and expand upon the Abraham Accords, while encouraging coordination throughout the Administration in furtherance of Arab-Israeli normalization. The measure also calls on the Administration to monitor and report on the status of anti-normalization laws in the region.
As you know, Israel has existed as a pariah state in the view of its neighbors for decades. As the MENA region endures deadly civil wars, painful economic upheavals, and increasing Iranian aggression, the Abraham Accords offer a new vision for sustainable peace and cooperation across the region. We are confident these agreements, as they mature, will prove beneficial to Israel and its neighbors – and will advance the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace by combating violent extremism and rewarding trust, reciprocity, interdependence, and pragmatism.
As this timely legislation moves forward, we hope the House will consider augmenting its focus on interreligious respect, interfaith education, and the protection of religious freedom – essential ingredients for establishing the “warm peace” the Abraham Accords signatories envision. U.S. entities, such as the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom and the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, can play a useful role in furthering this objective.
In the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, initiatives already underway will reinforce Arab-Jewish cooperation, create new jobs and billions of dollars in trade, and establish joint scientific endeavors to address renewable energy technology, water scarcity, and infectious diseases. The Israel Relations Normalization Act will build on this momentum.
For decades, AJC has worked to advance a more interconnected and open Middle East – in which Arabs and Israelis, and people of every faith and belief, can live together in peace, mutual respect, and shared prosperity. The Office of the Chief Rabbi, established two years ago to serve the vibrant and growing Jewish community of the UAE, in its every statement and action offers testimony to the positive environment that can emerge from enhancing Muslim-Jewish understanding and Arab-Israeli cooperation.
Thank you for your consideration of our views on this important matter.
Respectfully,
Chief Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Jewish Council of the Emirates
Jason F. Isaacson AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer
May 3, 2021
Dear Senator,
On behalf of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Office of the Chief Rabbi in the United Arab Emirates, we urge your support of S.1061, the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021. This bipartisan bill, introduced by Senators Booker (D-NJ), Cardin (D-MD), Portman (R-OH), Risch (R-ID), and Young (R-IN), affirms that U.S. policy is to strengthen and expand upon the Abraham Accords, while encouraging coordination throughout the Administration in furtherance of Arab-Israeli normalization. The measure also calls on the Administration to monitor and report on the status of anti-normalization laws in the region.
As you know, Israel has existed as a pariah state in the view of its neighbors for decades. As the MENA region endures deadly civil wars, painful economic upheavals and increasing Iranian aggression, the Abraham Accords offer a new vision for sustainable peace and cooperation across the region. We are confident these agreements, as they mature, will prove beneficial to Israel and its neighbors – and will advance the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace by combating violent extremism and rewarding trust, reciprocity, interdependence, and pragmatism.
As this timely legislation moves forward, we hope the Senate will consider augmenting its focus on interreligious respect, interfaith education and the protection of religious freedom – essential ingredients for establishing the “warm peace” the Abraham Accords signatories envision. U.S. entities, such as the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom and the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, can play a useful role in furthering this objective.
In the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, initiatives already underway will reinforce Arab-Jewish cooperation, create new jobs and billions of dollars in trade, and establish joint scientific endeavors to address renewable energy technology, water scarcity, and infectious diseases. The Israel Relations Normalization Act will build on this momentum.
For decades, AJC has worked to advance a more interconnected and open Middle East – in which Arabs and Israelis, and people of every faith and belief, can live together in peace, mutual respect, and shared prosperity. The Office of the Chief Rabbi, established two years ago to serve the vibrant and growing Jewish community of the UAE, in its every statement and action offers testimony to the positive environment that can emerge from enhancing Muslim-Jewish understanding and Arab-Israeli cooperation.
Thank you for your consideration of our views on this important matter.
Respectfully,
Chief Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Jewish Council of the Emirates
Jason F. Isaacson AJC Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer
