WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congresswoman Elaine Luria and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) led 18 of their bipartisan colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging the Administration to continue supporting the Lebanese people while ensuring that no U.S. assistance benefits Hezbollah. A terrorist organization and Iranian proxy militia, Hezbollah exploits significant problems plaguing Lebanon, including daily blackouts, fuel shortages, and a deep-seated government crisis.
“Hezbollah is responsible for the deaths of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese people alike, and we cannot allow this terrorist organization to siphon any humanitarian aid intended to benefit the Lebanese people,” said Congresswoman Luria. “I am proud to support this effort to ensure that no terrorist organization is enriched by U.S. foreign assistance.”
“I was proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan effort to ensure U.S. taxpayer dollars do not finance Hezbollah’s terrorist activities or Lebanon’s deep-rooted corruption,” said Reschenthaler. “I strongly commend the Trump Administration for their quick humanitarian response following the tragedy at the Port of Beirut and their continued commitment to preventing abuse of foreign aid for exploitation and violence. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am dedicated to standing with our ally Israel, condemning corruption and terrorism in Lebanon, and promoting peace and prosperity in the region.”
Click here to read the letter.
Since coming to Congress, Congresswoman Luria has been a strong voice in curbing Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon. In November 2019, she led 240 of her colleagues in sending a letter to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, urging an international effort to defend Israel, limit Hezbollah, and bolster existing UN capabilities to fight terrorism in the Middle East.
In addition, Congresswoman Luria co-leads the Countering Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Military Act of 2019 (H.R. 3331). This bill requires the Department of State to put together a strategy that improves Lebanon’s ability to implement Resolution 1701, encourages Lebanon’s cooperation with international peacekeeping missions on the border of Israel and Lebanon, and utilizes U.S.-Lebanon diplomatic engagement to prevent the building of cross-border tunnels into Israel and weapons factories inside Lebanon. This bill passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in July and is awaiting a vote on the House floor.
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I would suggest that anyone reading this should go back and read the. history of why Hezbollah was founded in the first place. The U.S. could help the most by mediating an agreement between Israel and Lebanon on their mutual border. Can look this up ,but I think the Hezbollah gov in Lebanon was elected and the last incursion, almost to Beirut, of Israeli troops into Lebanon. This was condoned by the U.S. and convoys of civilians fleeing the warzone toward Beirut were. shot at ,even though they carried white flags. Solving the Palestinian/Israeli. “situation” will solve a lot of border disputes. and allow countries more autonomy
Faux peace with the Emirates, etc. will not help since the U.S
armtwister. was the promise of. “non peace making” F 35 fighter jets . I can understand we want to recoup the cost of the RandD. etc of this plane, but not at the expense of the pivital. party who has been left out of any. PEACE talks……the Palestinians.
I disagree with Sandra Beerends. The key policy approach to overall peace in the Mideast should be to disentangle the nations that truly desire peace, viz. Israel, the non-Hezbollah Lebanese, and the Arab nations now involved in peace talks with Israel, from those entities that seek hegemony by violence and destruction, viz. Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, etc. To do this the U.S. must help create alliances between the peace-loving nations AND do everything it can to weaken and delegitimize those averse to real peace. In regard to Israel and Lebanon, I heartily commend Rep. Luria for supporting the Lebanese people while insisting that efforts be made to prevent Hezbollah from siphoning off needed humanitarian aid. I also hope that Rep. Luria will support the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to resolve any disputes over their respective maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean; Making sure that both nations agree to mutually prevent any attempts by Iran and its Hezbollah proxies to disturb the peace in this critical area.