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Washington, DC, September 03, 2019 (ATFL) – The American Task Force for Lebanon (AFTL), a leadership organization of Americans of Lebanese heritage, calls upon the United States to exert its leadership to bring about a speedy détente between Israel and Lebanon following recent cross-border incidents. Political voices on both sides are abetting an escalation that is in neither country’s interests. The US is the only country that has influence with both parties as well as long-term interests in the stability and security of both.
 
It is telling that Russia is already asserting its ties with Israel and Lebanon to supplant America’s traditional role in the region. The ATFL believes that it would be a mistake for the US to refrain from public and private communications to restore calm and stability in an area that is too often at the mercy of mercurial local leaders driven by narrow political agendas.
 
The US government should speak forcefully to remind Lebanese officials to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and enable the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to do its job as the sole guarantor of the country’s security, consistent with the recent Security Council statement renewing the UNIFIL mandate. 
 
The US government should also speak forcefully to Israel to stop its provocative actions, including overflights of drones and aircraft in clear violation of Lebanese airspace and its sovereignty, and cease steps that jeopardize US mediation of the land and sea boundaries between Lebanon and Israel. Lebanon’s stability and peace in the region should not be subject to considerations driven by political rather than legitimate security needs.
 
ATFL further calls on Hezbollah and Lebanese political leaders to refrain from statements encouraging actions that undercut Lebanon’s sovereignty and the role of the LAF, and that they should focus on counseling restraint among their friends in the region who are endangering Lebanon through their actions.
 
It is only by solidly supporting the LAF, leveraging the Lebanese government to act as the voice of all the Lebanese people, and reminding Israel that disproportionate responses may lead to ‘unintended consequences’ that make a catastrophic conflict inevitable, that the US can once again demonstrate its leadership and commitment to the security and stability of all of its friends in the region.

Washington, DC, August 28, 2019 (ATFL) – The American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), a leadership organization of Americans of Lebanese heritage, today released a statement expressing its concern over drone attacks that struck Beirut this past weekend.
 
This violation of Lebanese sovereignty represents a clear provocation that could bring about deterioration of the current political status quo in the country, an outcome that does not serve the security needs of Lebanon or any of its neighbors. Quite the contrary, it undermines the current stability in the southern area, which is a result of Lebanon’s cooperation with UN forces. It is critical that all parties avoid actions that undercut the need for constructive steps to implement UN resolution 1701, which vest security in the country solely in the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Over the past year, analysts and officials have warned that a wider war may occur in the region due to “unintended consequences” rather than a strategic decision by any of the parties. In this light, Israel’s continued violations of Lebanese airspace, rather than supporting its security needs, may, in fact, have the effect of damaging Lebanon, one of the closest friends of the US in the region, and lead to counteractions that put Israeli citizens at risk.
 
The ATFL calls on the Lebanese government to not be provoked into any precipitous actions and instead call, as it has done, for the United States and the United Nations to use their good offices to reduce the threat to Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Rather than heighten the likelihood of increased levels of conflict and engagement, all parties should work to reduce conditions that would result in greater threats and conflict that further destabilize Lebanon and the region. It is imperative that the source of the attack be discovered and the ATFL calls on Hezbollah to share the drone remnants with the LAF for a full investigation.
 
Finally, ATFL supports the international consensus that the Lebanese government should be supported in its efforts to fully implement UNSC Resolution 1701 by ensuring that the Lebanese Armed Forces continue to be strengthened in order to control all force capabilities within the country.

Washington, DC, September 27, 2018 (ATFL) – Following up on a visit with President Michel Aoun in June, Board Members of the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), including ATFL President Ambassador Edward Gabriel (ret.) and Executive Director Leslie Touma, met in New York City where the Lebanese delegation is attending the start of the UN General Assembly annual meetings.

President Aoun was joined in the meeting by acting Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, HE Dr. Amal Mudallali, HE Gabriel Issa, Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States, and Mireille Aoun Hachem, Advisor to the President.

The discussion included concerns regarding the health of the Lebanese economy, modalities for Syrian refugee repatriation, Russian attempts to build stronger military ties with Lebanon, the importance of US military and foreign assistance, and the need for stronger US leadership in the region.

President Aoun expressed his concern that there are some analysts who confuse politics and the economy, without clearly understanding how regional issues, such as the strain of supporting so many refugees, impact the country’s budget, economy, and social welfare. Acting Minister Bassil noted that the elimination of US foreign assistance to the UNWRA for its work supporting Palestinian refugees is an additional strain on Lebanon and destabilizing the region.

Both officials mentioned that Lebanon is ready to work with the United States and the UN to develop modalities for enabling the Syrian refugees to return home in a safe and voluntary process. President Aoun will reiterate these points in his address to the General Assembly.

Ambassador Gabriel expressed ATFL’s commitment to continuing to work on behalf of good relations between the US and Lebanon, including educating American policy makers on the regional challenges affecting the economic, political, and social situation in Lebanon, as well as working with the Lebanese government to encourage policies that strengthen the Lebanese economy and promote investments in the country.

Washington, D.C., February 16, 2018 (ATFL) – During his stopover in Lebanon yesterday on a five-country trip to the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reassured Lebanon of US support for its independence and called on Israel and Lebanon to engage in diplomacy to settle their ongoing border dispute. The two countries have been engaged in an exchange of charges regarding Israel’s recent project to build a wall on its northern border with Lebanon. This has implications for their shared maritime boundary, which demarcates offshore areas with highly probable gas and oil resources. Both countries claim overlapping areas.

At his press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Secretary Tillerson said, “We’ve asked no one to give up anything. Rather, we’re looking for a solution. Let’s get the border agreed first and then people can think about if they need a security wall or not at that point.” Mr. Hariri said that Lebanon will uphold its position on the border issues. “What is ours is ours and what is Israel’s is Israel’s. We are trying to find solutions that will be fair to us and fair to everyone.”

In his meeting with Lebanese President Aoun, Secretary Tillerson raised concerns that Hezbollah’s military activities in several countries were undermining stability in the region and would result in negative consequences for Lebanon. Regarding recent US legislation targeting Hezbollah’s financial network, President Aoun noted that some of these sanctions have hurt Lebanon’s economy and thrown off potential investors. He also noted that the US reduction in aid to UNRWA from $264 million to $60 million will gravely affect Lebanon’s ability to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis.

In his note in the visitors’ book, Secretary Tillerson said that the United States will “stand with the Lebanese people for a free and democratic Lebanon,” and confirmed America’s “continued support for the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces.”

Ambassador Edward M. Gabriel, President of the American Task Force for Lebanon, a leadership group of Lebanese-Americans who support strong US-Lebanon ties noted, “We welcome Secretary Tillerson’s support” and said, “Without a comprehensive strategy for the region that commits the United States to proactive policies that support our interests and our allies, the United States risks its larger role of global leadership, a goal that can’t be attained without thoughtful and credible engagement.”

February 12, 2018. The American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), an organization of prominent Lebanese-Americans who support strong US-Lebanon relations, is gravely concerned with the recent escalation in tensions between Syria, Iran, and Israel as a result of the shooting down of an alleged Iranian drone over Israel and its response targeting the drone’s command center in Syria manned by Iranian personnel. This bombing, and the subsequent attack against a Syrian airbase following the downing of an Israeli F-16, represents the first direct engagement between Syria and Israel since 1982.

Bellicose statements have been issued by all sides of the conflict, each defending their behavior and questioning the other parties’ version of events. Regardless of the sequence of events, the reality is that tensions among the parties are once again threatening the Lebanese as well as Israeli and Syrian civilian populations who are the first casualties of the saber-rattling.

As Heather Nauert, a State Department spokeswoman said this weekend, “Iran’s calculated escalation of threat, and its ambition to project its power and dominance, places all the people of the region — from Yemen to Lebanon — at risk.”

The ATFL firmly supports Lebanon’s policy of dissociation, wherein it is determined to avoid becoming entangled in any conflicts in the region, and calls on all parties to firmly commit to avoiding provocations and responses that threaten civilian populations and escalate military confrontation. With the decreasing threat from ISIS and the continued desperate conditions for Syrian refugees throughout the region, steps should focus on reducing threats and encouraging conditions that allow for the safe return of the refugees and the reconstruction of Syria.

The ATFL is especially hopeful that during his visit to the region, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will reinforce the need for caution and diplomacy.