Bronx, NY-- Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“I welcome the announcement of normalization between Bahrain and Israel. Bahrain is an important partner in the Gulf, and the United States is safer when our partners are able to work together toward a common purpose.

“These recent agreements demonstrate courage, vision, and hope for a more peaceful world. I encourage other Arab and Muslim countries to be part of that vision and build a safer and more prosperous world for their people. I look forward to the day when Israel is at peace with all of its neighbors, thereby ensuring Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state.

“As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I will continue to carefully monitor and evaluate any weapons sales that are a direct or indirect byproduct of these agreements and how the sale of American weapons to the region affects Israel’s qualitative military edge.”