Bipartisan letter to UN includes 240 Members of Congress
Congresswoman Elaine Luria
Two hundred and forty lawmakers signed on to Congresswoman Elaine Luria’s (VA-02) bipartisan letter to United Nations (UN) 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.
“The names on this letter show the robust bipartisan support for protecting our ally Israel from Hezbollah and Iran’s toxic activities,” Congresswoman Luria says. “When I visited Israel in December, I saw the border with Lebanon and know what is at stake if Hezbollah is able to freely amass weapons. I’ll keep fighting to ensure the United States continues to stand with Israel.”
More than 13 years ago, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1701 to end the Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah. The resolution called for the Lebanese government to disarm all paramilitary groups in the country, including Hezbollah, so only the Lebanese state had weapons.
However, Lebanon’s work to implement this resolution has been unsuccessful as Hezbollah has amassed an arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles—all aimed at Israel—while spending millions of dollars developing underground tunnels that also pose a lethal risk to innocent civilians.
Signed by 240 members—well beyond half of all House lawmakers—Congresswoman Luria’s letter urges Secretary Guterres to follow Resolution 1701 and lead an international effort to limit Hezbollah’s capabilities and avoid future conflict with America’s ally Israel.
Specifically, the letter calls on Secretary Guterres “to assist Lebanon’s Prime Minister and President to finally reclaim Lebanese sovereignty and implement all the terms of UNSCR 1701,” including utilizing a United Nations force to help Lebanon secure its land and protect Israel.
Leading the bipartisan effort with Congresswoman Luria are Congressman Lee Zeldin (NY-01), Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11), and Congressman Michael Waltz (FL-06).
Congresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is the Vice Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where she serves as Chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.