A proposed law to establish an ambassador-level envoy to work on expanding the Abraham Accords just cleared an important hurdle in Congress.
H.R. 3099 was approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee through a voice vote without receiving any objections. Numerous legislators emphasized that the position would be critical for bringing Saudi Arabia into the accords.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), a co-sponsor of the bill, said that “establishing a special envoy wholly devoted to this purpose will also demonstrate a clear U.S. commitment to cultivating the growth of the Abraham Accords. … It is a reaffirmation of our commitment to supporting peaceful and productive bilateral relationships in the Middle East, and hopefully far beyond the region.”
The top candidate for the potential job has been reported as Dan Shapiro who served as the Obama administration’s ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017.
Just as the lawmakers sought to broaden the influence of one Middle East nation they also pushed to limit another. A second bill approved alongside H.R. 3099 would prevent the United States from recognizing Syria as long as leader Bashar Assad remained in power.
