For Immediate Release
August 4, 2006
Contact: Josh Moenning
(402) 438-1598
Lincoln, NE - Congressman Jeff Fortenberry released the following statement today regarding the conflict in the Middle East.
As difficult and complex as the current situation in the Middle East remains, now is the time to seek a comprehensive strategy for the development of a sustainable peace. Three immediate steps should be considered.
First, there should be a call for free-from-fire corridors in South Lebanon allowing for the humanitarian evacuation of innocent civilians and monitored by UN peacekeepers to ensure that armed militias are not empowered to hide behind civilians.
Second, this will allow time to develop a new multinational force with the strength and will to secure Southern Lebanon and pursue the disarmament of Hezbollah, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1559. This force will also provide security to Israel and restore the territorial integrity of Lebanon.
Third, substantial international effort is needed to assist the nascent democratic Lebanese government to stabilize the situation in the country, address the humanitarian issues it faces, and repair its civil infrastructure for the long-term well-being of the region. The international community also needs to recognize the substantial consequences that the attacks on Israel have had on the communities in the northern part of that country.
There is a model for peace in the Middle East. Since 1982, a multinational peacekeeping force on the Sinai Peninsula has helped maintain peace and greater understanding between Israel and Egypt. The United States played a key role then in achieving peace.
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