Re: South Lebanese villages need Humanitarian corridor into Israel
The Honorable Senator Lindsay Graham
211 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
April 6, 2026
Dear Senator Graham,
Thank you for your strong leadership and for holding the LAF under General Haykal accountable. Their failure against Hezbollah and talk of abandoning Christian villages in the South is dangerous and unacceptable. We urge you and the US administration to press the Lebanese government and Ministry of Justice to lift the legal barriers preventing coordination with Israel, especially for humanitarian reasons. South Lebanese villages urgently need safe passes and direct coordination with the IDF and Israel for medicine, medical care, hospitals, supplies, and essential aid to save civilian lives. This practical step would protect innocents and show real compassion and real strength against terror.
Suspending the enforcement of Lebanon’s outdated, anti-normalization laws (including the 1955 Anti-Israeli Boycott Law) is a key step toward peace, security, and open communication across the Lebanon-Israel border.
The ties between the Lebanese and Israeli peoples go back over 3,000 years, with shared historical, cultural, and human connections. These restrictions on their normal interactions must end. Lebanese citizens should be able to communicate freely with Israelis—for professional, journalistic, academic, civil society, or personal reasons—without fear of criminal prosecution or other consequences from their government.
This effort aligns with Congressman Steube’s PAGER Act, one provision of which calls on the Lebanese military court to “dismiss all charges and arrest warrants against American citizens who have advocated against Hezbollah’s influence over the Government of Lebanon, including American journalists who have appeared on Israeli news media or invited Israeli guests on their media programs.” Furthermore, the Lebanese people should have the freedom to visit the Holy Land for pilgrimage, family, or other legitimate purposes, building trust and lasting peace. These provisions are vital for Lebanon, Israel, and regional stability.
The Lebanese government could at least consider issuing a Temporary Protection Status (TPS) to allow residents from the south to access Israel for medical and humanitarian assistance.
Recently, there have been several heartbreaking incidents illustrating the severity of the issue. For example, a man in his 60s from the Christian town of Ein-Ebel experienced chest pain and sought help at a government hospital in the nearby town of Bint-Jbeil. Unfortunately, he was denied treatment as the hospital was reportedly reserving facilities for Hezbollah fighters. He returned to his hometown and tragically passed away the following day due to a heart attack. Just a few days ago, a pregnant woman was unable to reach a hospital in time and sadly lost her baby. Stories like these are becoming increasingly common in Christian and Druze communities, highlighting the urgent need for accessible medical care.
AMCD also notes that U.S. representatives Brad Schneider, Darin LaHood, and Abraham Hamadeh put out a letter urging the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, to press the Lebanese government to suspend enforcement of laws that criminalize contact between Lebanese and Israeli citizens. We applaud this and all your own tireless efforts to free Lebanon from the nightmarish grip of Hezbollah.
Your leadership has been crucial on this issue for many years. Please know that the American Mideast Coalition for Democracy representing the American-Lebanese community stands firmly beside you.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Harb and John Hajjar
AMCD Co-Chairs
CC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Congressmen Lahood, Hamadeh, Schneider, Issa, Stuebe
Israel Ambassador Leiter
Ambassador Mike Huckabee
Special Envoy Massad Boulos
Ambassador Michel Issa