November 26, 2024 — New York, NY
American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, welcomes today’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, and hopes its enforcement can lead to enduring security for both the Israeli and Lebanese people.
As Israel has done time and time again, it has chosen to agree to a ceasefire at the risk of huge potential costs. To protect this peace, enforcement from the Lebanese army, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and U.S. Central Command will be paramount. As long as Hezbollah, funded by the Iranian regime to eradicate Israel, remains on its border, Israel and her people are under threat.
Much of this deal is based on the original tenets of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which has failed to be enforced since its adoption in 2006. While AJC welcomes the new enforcement mechanisms in this agreement, we will continue to advocate for a reassessment of UNIFIL’s mandate and operations.
As recently as last August, UNIFIL’s mandate was simply renewed without the necessary adjustments to address the threat posed by Hezbollah. Without meaningful reforms, UNIFIL will continue to fall short of its mandate. UNIFIL’s mandate must be changed from “observe and report” to “security enforcement” – adapting to the current reality and threat Hezbollah poses to Israelis and the Lebanese people.
In a country that is languishing and facing economic collapse, Hezbollah has spent the last 40 years creating a state within a state and an army more powerful – thanks to Iranian arms and funding, as well as income from criminal enterprises around the world – than the legitimate Lebanese Armed Forces. While the durability of the ceasefire agreement remains to be seen, AJC is hopeful that it will create an opportunity for the Lebanese people to build a more stable, unified, and sovereign state—free from the Iranian regime’s agenda to destroy Lebanon’s southern neighbor.
Our hearts are with the Israeli people who have been forced to flee from their homes in the north of the country and who will disproportionately face the risk of this agreement.
AJC is grateful for United States leadership in securing this agreement and welcomes American and French involvement in the inspection committee to ensure its success.
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
###
