---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 2735a"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "2735a"
heading: "Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Integration and Normalization Fora and Agreements"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/2735a"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Department of State"
---

# §2735a. Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Integration and Normalization Fora and Agreements

- (a) **Office—** There is established within the Department of State the [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) of the Special Presidential Envoy for the [Abraham Accords](#k-1), [Negev Forum](#k-4), and Related Integration and Normalization Fora and [Agreements](/usc/22/2431a.md?p=7) (referred to in this section as the “Regional Integration [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9)”).
- (b) **Leadership—**
  - (1) **[^1] Special Envoy—** The Regional Integration [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9) shall be headed by the Special Presidential Envoy for the [Abraham Accords](#k-1), [Negev Forum](#k-4), and Related Normalization [Agreements](/usc/22/2431a.md?p=7), who shall—
    - (A) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
    - (B) report directly to the Secretary of State.
- (c) **Rank and status of ambassador—** The Special Envoy shall have the rank and status of ambassador.
- (d) **Duties—** The Special Envoy shall—
  - (1) lead diplomatic engagement—
    - (A) to [strengthen](#k-7) and [expand](#k-2) the [Negev Forum](#k-4), the [Abraham Accords](#k-1), and related normalization [agreements](/usc/22/2431a.md?p=7) with Israel, including promoting initiatives that benefit the people of [key partners in regional integration](#k-3) or [other regional actors](#k-6) in order to encourage such expansion; and
    - (B) to support the work of regional integration;
  - (2) implement the policy of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) to [expand](#k-2) normalization and support greater regional integration—
    - (A) within the Middle East and North Africa; and
    - (B) between the Middle East and North Africa and other key regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond;
  - (3) work to deliver tangible economic and security benefits for the citizens of [Abraham Accords](#k-1) countries, [Negev Forum](#k-4) countries, and countries that are members of other related normalization [agreements](/usc/22/2431a.md?p=7);
  - (4) serve as the ministerial liaison for the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) to the [Negev Forum](#k-4) and other emerging normalization and integration fora, as necessary, and provide senior representation at events, steering committee meetings, and other relevant diplomatic engagements relating to the [Negev Forum](#k-4) or other regional integration bodies;
  - (5) coordinate all cross-agency engagements and strategies in support of normalization efforts with other relevant officials and agencies;
  - (6) ensure that the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/22/2152j–4.md?p=1) are regularly informed about the work of the Regional Integration [Office](/usc/22/2214a.md?p=9);
  - (7) initiate and advance negotiations on a framework for an economic and security partnership with the [Negev Forum](#k-4) countries, other [key partners in regional integration](#k-3), and [other regional actors](#k-6);
  - (8) oppose efforts to delegitimize Israel and legal barriers to normalization with Israel;
  - (9) initiate negotiations with [Abraham Accords](#k-1) countries and [Negev Forum](#k-4) countries, [observers](#k-5), and [key partners in regional integration](#k-3) on an economic framework that includes—
    - (A) improving supply chain security and resiliency;
    - (B) aligning common regulatory and financial standards;
    - (C) attracting [foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) investment;
    - (D) diversification of energy resources, including renewable sources of energy, and the development and deployment of emerging and advanced technologies that promote energy security; and
    - (E) digital economy, cybersecurity, and cross-border data flow;
  - (10) lead interagency efforts to reach an international [agreement](/usc/22/2431a.md?p=7) on the comprehensive economic framework described in [paragraph (9)](#d-9);
  - (11) endeavor to embed already established standards on countering money laundering and terrorist financing into the regional economic framework described in [paragraph (9)](#d-9); and
  - (12) promote regional integration and broader interconnectivity among the [Abraham Accords](#k-1) countries, [Negev Forum](#k-4) countries, [observers](#k-5), [key partners in regional integration](#k-3), and [other regional actors](#k-6) by promoting and supporting targeted investment in regional infrastructure and other critical sectors that broaden and deepen interconnectivity, increase economic growth and resilience, create benefits for citizens of [Abraham Accords](#k-1) countries and [Negev Forum](#k-4) countries, and advance the national security, economic, and development interests of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1).
- (e) **Limitation—** The Special Envoy shall not be a dual-hatted official with other responsibilities within the Department of State or the executive branch.
- (f) **Sense of Congress—** It is the sense of Congress that whole-of-government resources should be harnessed to ensure the successful performance by the Special Envoy of the duties described in [subsection (d)](#d).
- (g) **Report—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 180 days after December 22, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Special Envoy shall submit to the Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Relations of the Senate and the Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on actions taken by all relevant Federal agencies—
    - (A) to [strengthen](#k-7) and [expand](#k-2) the [Abraham Accords](#k-1) and the work of the [Negev Forum](#k-4) and future structures and organizations; and
    - (B) towards the objectives of regional integration.
  - (2) **Form of report—** The report required by [paragraph (1)](#g-1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a separate, classified annex.
- (h) **Strategy—** Not later than 180 days after December 22, 2023, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Relations of the Senate and the Committee on [Foreign](/usc/22/3146.md?p=1) Affairs of the House of Representatives an interagency strategy to use the economic tools of the Federal Government to promote regional integration through targeted investment as described in [subsection (d)(12)](#d-12).
- (i) **Termination—** This section shall terminate on the date that is 6 years after December 22, 2023.
- (j) **Rule of construction—** If, on December 22, 2023, an individual has already been designated, consistent with the requirements and responsibilities described in subsections [(b)](#b), [(c)](#c), and [(d)](#d) and [section 2651a of this title](/usc/22/2651a.md), the requirements under [subsection (b)](#b) shall be considered to be satisfied with respect to such individual until the date on which such individual no longer serves as the Special Envoy.
- (k) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Abraham Accords—** The term “Abraham Accords” means—
    - (A) the [Abraham Accords](#k-1) Declaration, done at Washington September 15, 2020;
    - (B) the [Abraham Accords](#k-1) Peace [Agreement](/usc/22/2431a.md?p=7): Treaty of Peace, Diplomatic Relations and Full Normalization Between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, done at Washington September 15, 2020;
    - (C) the [Abraham Accords](#k-1): Declaration of Peace, Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations, done at Washington September 15, 2020, between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain; and
    - (D) the Joint Declaration of the Kingdom of Morocco, the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1), and Israel, done at Rabat December 22, 2020.
  - (2) **Expand—** The term “expand”, with respect to the [Abraham Accords](#k-1), means to increase the number of regional, Arab, or Muslim-majority countries that seek to normalize relations with the State of Israel.
  - (3) **Key partners in regional integration—** The term “key partners in regional integration” means—
    - (A) any [Abraham Accords](#k-1) country;
    - (B) Egypt;
    - (C) Jordan;
    - (D) the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and
    - (E) any other active and constructive country that supports cooperation—
      - (i) to normalize relations between countries in the Middle East and North Africa and Israel; and
      - (ii) to advance regional integration.
  - (4) **Negev Forum—** The term “Negev Forum” means the regional grouping known as the Negev Forum Regional Cooperation Framework that was adopted on November 10, 2022, or any successor group.
  - (5) **Observer—** The term “observer”—
    - (A) means any country, particularly inside the Middle East and North Africa region, or political entity that—
      - (i) directly supports the objectives and processes of the [Negev Forum](#k-4);
      - (ii) expresses serious interest in participating in certain projects determined by the [Negev Forum](#k-4) that benefit normalization with Israel and greater regional integration; and
      - (iii) is not an official member of the [Negev Forum](#k-4) Steering Committee or any working group of the [Negev Forum](#k-4); and
    - (B) includes 3+1 format members Cyprus and Greece.
  - (6) **Other regional actors—** The term “other regional actors” means the Palestinian Authority or a credible future political entity that serves as the interlocutor for the Palestinian people.
  - (7) **Strengthen—** The term “strengthen”, with respect to the [Abraham Accords](#k-1) and the [Negev Forum](#k-4), means to engage in efforts that improve the diplomatic relations between [Abraham Accords](#k-1) countries and broaden the breadth and scope of issues on which [Abraham Accords](#k-1) countries cooperate.

## Source credit

(Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 64, as added Pub. L. 118–31, div. F, title LXIV, § 6407, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 1000.)