Mike Wagenheim
Senior U.S. Correspondent, i24NEWS
He will 'support U.S. efforts to advance a more peaceful and interconnected region, deepen and broaden the Abraham Accords, and build the Negev Forum'
Former American ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro was appointed envoy for the Abraham Accords, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Thursday.
"Pleased to announce former U.S. Amb. Daniel Shapiro is joining State Department as Senior Advisor for Regional Integration. Dan will support U.S. efforts to advance a more peaceful and interconnected region, deepen and broaden the Abraham Accords, and build the Negev Forum," Blinken tweeted.
The legislative-backing for this position is currently working its way through U.S. Congress. It has already passed the House of Representatives ealirer in June.
If voted into law, the special envoy would be tasked with encouraging additional countries to follow the lead of the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Bahrain in normalizing relations with the Jewish state. The State Department appointee would have the rank of an ambassador, thereby requiring Senate confirmation.
“While the appointment of former Ambassador Daniel Shapiro to the position of Senior Advisor for Regional Integration is welcome news, it does not take away from the fact that we must get the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act signed into law, to ensure that all administrations share the same goal for Israel and the Middle East - lasting peace,' Representative Mike Lawler, who is a co-sponsor of the Abraham Accords envoy bill, told i24NEWS.