Category: Announcement

Washington, DC, March 25, 2020 (ATFL) – The American Task Force on Lebanon (ATFL) announces the release of its policy brief “6 Key Steps for Targeted US Diplomacy to Stabilize Lebanon and Advance US Foreign Policy” in collaboration with the Middle East Institute and the Lebanese International Finance Executives.   Lebanon’s political and economic crises are spiraling out of control. Over 50% of the country has slipped into poverty, food scarcity is a reality, and protesters nationwide have grown desperate. The country’s political leadership is coming up on its seventh month of political gridlock. Without a government in place, Lebanon is unable make reforms that would unlock greatly needed international aid.   ATFL and its collaborators recommend the United States take immediate action through the following steps:

1. Empower a new high level international contact groupto coordinate an international diplomatic initiative to produce constructive action by Lebanon’s parliament and state officials this spring.

2. Establish an international direct assistance fundthat bypasses Lebanon’s governmental institutions to provide a social safety net in support of the Lebanese people.

3. Reinforce US diplomacy with a security strategythat maintains close cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

4. Work with our international partners on an economic recovery agendawhen there is a credible and empowered reform government in place.

5. Make Lebanon a key focus in the Biden Administration’sglobal pro-democracy agenda.

6. Make Lebanon an exampleof the Biden Administration’s stepped-up efforts to counter global corruption.

The policy brief was released at a webinar launch event involving a panel discussion featuring  Patricia Karam from the International Republican Institute, Paul Salem and Randa Slim from the Middle East Institute, and Jacques Tohme from the Lebanese International Finance Executives.   ATFL President Edward M. Gabriel noted that “The release of this document represents an important consensus among more than 20 leading US-Lebanon policy experts…speaking with one unified and forceful voice that will hopefully demonstrate to the Lebanese people that they are not alone in their fight to take back their country and make it a beacon of peace, prosperity, religious diversity, and democracy.”   Moderator and ATFL Policy Director Jean AbiNader added, “We know that a solution to Lebanon can only be undertaken by the Lebanese people and we as Lebanese-Americans are here to support them in this process.”

Washington, DC, October 21, 2019 (ATFL) – The Lebanese people have been demonstrating to protest their government’s lack of addressing needed reforms, more transparency in government transactions, and a robust commitment to government reform.

The American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), a leadership organization of Americans of Lebanese heritage, calls upon the Lebanese government and political and sectarian leadership to respect the civil and human rights of the demonstrators, eschewing violent responses, encouraging dialogue, and taking concrete, immediate steps to address the legitimate concerns being raised.

We believe it is critical for the government of Lebanon to recognize the underlying conditions that have generated the demonstrations taking place and the need to immediately address these concerns in order to peacefully restore calm to the country.  

The Lebanese should know that the US supports the need for economic and political reforms, which ensure transparency and effective governance. ATFL reaffirms its determination to work with the US government to ensure that the needs of Lebanon are properly addressed. 

We call on Lebanon’s leaders to enter into a good faith dialogue in a serious and trustworthy fashion with its citizens. The US, France, and Lebanon’s Western partners must also encourage such a national dialogue, one that is built on trust and partnership. It is also now timely for the US and its allies to press for the reforms called for in the CEDRE conference.

In this difficult time, the Lebanese must come together and build a country that is vibrant and strong, a country that represents the values of openness, freedom and opportunity for all its people. 

Dear ATFL Board,

The American Task Force for Lebanon mourns the loss of Rep. John Dingell, one of the longest-serving members of Congress. Rep. Dingell was a strong advocate for the Arab-American community and worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents.

His efforts in Congress were key to lifting the ban on travel to Lebanon that was in place for 10 years during late 1980s-1990s, and he recognized the importance of a strong US-Lebanon bilateral relationship to security and stability in the region.

ATFL was proud to honor Rep. Dingell in 2003 with the Philip C. Habib Award for Distinguished Public Service in recognition of his years of service to the Lebanese-American community and to the United States. ATFL offers our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Rep. John Dingell. We mourn the loss of such a great friend to the Lebanese-American community and honor his service to his country and constituents.

The American Task Force for Lebanon would like to congratulate Dr. Paul Salem on being named president of the Middle East Institute. Dr. Salem is an outstanding member of the Lebanese-American community and a respected leader and scholar in the region. His research has been invaluable to the field.
We are sure MEI will continue its legacy of excellence under Dr. Salem’s new leadership.