[[{"content_id":"353820","domain_id":"0","lang_id":"en","portal_id":"2","owner_id":"114","user_id":"44","view_accesslevel_id":"0","edit_accesslevel_id":"0","delete_accesslevel_id":"0","editor_id":"44","content_title":"Pro-Israel lobby AIPAC pushes to expand Israel's normalization deals with Arab states","content_number":"","content_date_event":"2021-03-30 11:33:23","content_summary":"The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has secured two of its major lobbying priorities on Capitol Hill, including legislation pushing the Biden administration to expand the Abraham Accords.","content_summary_fill":"1","content_body":"Last week, a bipartisan group of 18 senators introduced the Israel Relations Normalisation Act of 2021, which would require the Biden administration to try to extend the Abraham Accords to countries that have not yet established ties with the close US ally.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“The Abraham Accords between Israel and like-minded nations have the potential to fundamentally change the Middle East for the better,” James Risch, the top Republican on the Senate foreign relations committee, said after introducing the bill.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n“Former opponents and rivals have come together to address shared challenges, and I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation that reaffirms the United States’ commitment to strengthen and expand these historic agreements.”\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nAIPAC cancelled its annual summit, typically held in March, this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThousands of AIPAC  activists typically descend on Capitol Hill after the summit to push Congress to enact the group’s agenda.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBut this month the group’s volunteers lobbied senators, representatives and congressional staffers online.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe Israel Relations Normalisation Act is one of five major items on AIPAC ’s agenda this year.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nMr Risch’s office said the bill would require the State Department, Defence Department and the US Agency for International Development to co-ordinate on a strategy convincing more countries to normalise relations with Israel.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe bill would require the State Department to submit a strategy to Congress that includes “a detailed description” of how the US government would use its diplomatic influence to convince other countries to forge ties with Israel.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe Israel Relations Normalisation Act, AIPAC  also succeeded in convincing senators to take a tough line on Iran as the Biden administration struggles to revive the nuclear deal.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nThe UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco normalised relations with Israel during the administration of president Donald Trump.\r\n\r\n\r\nAfter signing the Abraham Accords last year, the UAE struck a $23 billion arms deal with the US that included 50 F-35 fighter jets.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWashington also removed Sudan from its state sponsor of terror list, unlocking $81 million in humanitarian assistance, and the Trump administration recognised Morocco’s claim over disputed parts of the Sahara.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nWhile the UAE arms deal remains under review, Sudan remains off the terror list and President Joe Biden has not yet reversed the Trump administration’s position on the disputed Sahara region.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nBeyond the Israel Relations Normalisation Act, AIPAC also succeeded in convincing senators to take a tough line on Iran as the Biden administration struggles to revive the nuclear deal.","content_html":"

Last week, a bipartisan group of 18 senators introduced the Israel Relations Normalisation Act of 2021, which would require the Biden administration to try to extend the Abraham Accords to countries that have not yet established ties with the close US ally.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“The Abraham Accords between Israel and like-minded nations have the potential to fundamentally change the Middle East for the better,” James Risch, the top Republican on the Senate foreign relations committee, said after introducing the bill.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

“Former opponents and rivals have come together to address shared challenges, and I am proud to co-sponsor this legislation that reaffirms the United States’ commitment to strengthen and expand these historic agreements.”<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

AIPAC cancelled its annual summit, typically held in March, this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Thousands of AIPAC  activists typically descend on Capitol Hill after the summit to push Congress to enact the group’s agenda.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

But this month the group’s volunteers lobbied senators, representatives and congressional staffers online.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Israel Relations Normalisation Act is one of five major items on AIPAC ’s agenda this year.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Mr Risch’s office said the bill would require the State Department, Defence Department and the US Agency for International Development to co-ordinate on a strategy convincing more countries to normalise relations with Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The bill would require the State Department to submit a strategy to Congress that includes “a detailed description” of how the US government would use its diplomatic influence to convince other countries to forge ties with Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The Israel Relations Normalisation Act, AIPAC  also succeeded in convincing senators to take a tough line on Iran as the Biden administration struggles to revive the nuclear deal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

The UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco normalised relations with Israel during the administration of president Donald Trump.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n


\r\nAfter signing the Abraham Accords last year, the UAE struck a $23 billion arms deal with the US that included 50 F-35 fighter jets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Washington also removed Sudan from its state sponsor of terror list, unlocking $81 million in humanitarian assistance, and the Trump administration recognised Morocco’s claim over disputed parts of the Sahara.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

While the UAE arms deal remains under review, Sudan remains off the terror list and President Joe Biden has not yet reversed the Trump administration’s position on the disputed Sahara region.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Beyond the Israel Relations Normalisation Act, AIPAC also succeeded in convincing senators to take a tough line on Iran as the Biden administration struggles to revive the nuclear deal.<\/span><\/p>","content_source":"","content_url":"","content_columns":"0","content_date_start":"2021-03-30 11:33:23","content_date_finish":"2021-03-30 11:33:23","content_date_register":"2021-03-30 11:39:05","content_date_last_edit":"2021-03-30 11:39:06","content_show_img":"1","content_show_details":"0","content_show_related_img":"0","content_show_slider":"1","content_show_title_slider":"1","content_comment":"1","content_score":"0","content_recorded":"0","content_confirmed":"0","content_status":"1","content_kind":"0","old_id":"0","tag_id":null,"tag_word":null,"tag_service":null,"tag_total":null,"tag_soundex":null,"attach_token":"1761317710","attach_date_register":"2021-03-30 11:38:34","attach_id":"487075","attach_file_ext":"jpg","attach_file_header":"image\/jpeg","attach_img_type":"2","attach_img_width":"1200","attach_img_height":"675","attach_file_media":"1","attach_show_watermark":"1","score_average":null,"score_count":null,"score_date_last":null,"visit_count":"544","visit_date_last":"2025-05-09 19:43:33","attach_title":"Pro-Israel lobby AIPAC pushes to expand Abraham Accords\n 2","node_title":"news,Political,Latest news","ot_node_left_right":"[{\"node_id\":122, \"left\":2, \"right\":53},{\"node_id\":136, \"left\":29, \"right\":32},{\"node_id\":144, \"left\":49, \"right\":50}]"}]]