Hagerty Urges Biden to Confirm Whether Administration Supports Abraham Accords

May 19, 2021

WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) today sent a letter to President Joe Biden concerning an alarming statement made by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki to a reporter’s question about whether the Administration still supports the Abraham Accords and asking President Biden to confirm whether or not there has been a fundamental change in Administration policy on the Abraham Accords, a series of historic peace agreements under which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco each agreed to normalize relations with Israel.

Senior officials in the Biden Administration had expressed strong support for the Abraham Accords, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, but yesterday, Psaki said: “We are not following the tactics of the prior administration,” and added: “Aside from putting together a peace proposal that was dead on arrival, we don’t think [the previous administration] did anything constructive to really bring an end to the longstanding conflict in the Middle East.”

“The Abraham Accords have enjoyed strong support on both sides of the aisle in the United States, in many capitals in the Middle East and around the world. That is precisely why the White House Press Secretary’s caustic and partisan remarks about the Abraham Accords are so jarring. At a time when Israel is under attack from Palestinian terrorist elements, the White House Press Secretary’s comments, if not corrected, will embolden those who seek violence over peace,” Hagerty wrote.

“I therefore ask you to urgently confirm whether your Administration continues to support the historic Abraham Accords, which broke with the conventional wisdom by demonstrating the viability of cascading and sustainable paths to peace in the Middle East,” Hagerty concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Mr. President:

I write with alarm after White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on May 18, 2021, in response to a reporter’s question about whether your Administration still supports the Abraham Accords, said:  “We are not following the tactics of the prior administration,” adding:  “Aside from putting together a peace proposal that was dead on arrival, we don’t think [the previous administration] did anything constructive to really to bring an end to the longstanding conflict in the Middle East.” 

I urgently ask you to confirm whether or not the White House Press Secretary’s shocking statement actually reflects a fundamental change in your Administration’s policy on the Abraham Accords.  The previous administration facilitated the historic Abraham Accords, a series of agreements under which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco each agreed to normalize relations with Israel.

Prior to the White House Press Secretary’s recent comments, senior officials in your Administration had expressed strong support for the Abraham Accords.  On January 29, 2021, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the Abraham Accords are “positive for security in the region, positive for economic development in the region and positive for America’s national interests.”  In remarks to the Embassy of Israel to the United States’ virtual celebration of the Jewish state’s Independence Day on April 14, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said:  “The United States welcomes and supports the recent normalization agreements,” adding:  “We will continue to urge more countries to normalize relations with Israel—and will look for other opportunities to expand cooperation among countries in the region.  As a result, I expect Israel’s group of friends to grow even wider in the year ahead.”

The Abraham Accords have enjoyed strong support on both sides of the aisle in the United States, in many capitals in the Middle East and around the world.  That is precisely why the White House Press Secretary’s caustic and partisan remarks about the Abraham Accords are so jarring.  At a time when Israel is under attack from Palestinian terrorist elements, the White House Press Secretary’s comments, if not corrected, will embolden those who seek violence over peace. 

I therefore ask you to urgently confirm whether your Administration continues to support the historic Abraham Accords, which broke with the conventional wisdom by demonstrating the viability of cascading and sustainable paths to peace in the Middle East.

Sincerely,