Claude A Hillar Hajjar/Open Letter To The Honorable President Donald J. Trump, & To the Members of the Administration, The Guardians of the Cedars – Media Department
February 15/2025
Dear Members,
We write to you with deep concern regarding the implementation of the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire agreement and the United Nations Security Council resolutions it encompasses. As you know, both France and the United States are responsible for overseeing the implementation of this ceasefire agreement.
Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the US Army commander overseeing the ceasefire, recently stated his confidence that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will control all population centers in the Southern Litani Area before next Tuesday. While this is a welcome step, it is crucial to address the broader requirements of the ceasefire agreement, which extend beyond the LAF’s deployment.
The ceasefire agreement mandates the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Notably, Article 8 of Resolution 1701 explicitly calls for the implementation of Resolution 1559, which demands the immediate disarming of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese armed organizations. Therefore, we ask: what progress has been made on the disarmament of Hezbollah and the Palestinian terrorist organizations in Lebanon?
In his investiture speech, General Joseph Aoun declared that he would supervise the disarmament process through the Supreme Defence Council, one of the few significant powers remaining under the President’s authority since the Taif Agreement. Has the Supreme Defence Council convened since General Joseph Aoun’s election? What is the status of efforts to disarm Hezbollah and the Palestinian terrorist groups?
We are deeply concerned that we may see a repetition of the events of 1983-84 when Syria declared that it would withdraw only after Israel withdrew, effectively stalling the peace process. Today, Hezbollah and the Palestinian terrorist organizations are employing a similar tactic, insisting they will disarm only after Israel withdraws. As the saying goes: “Fool us once, shame on you; fool us twice, shame on us.”
It is essential that the United States push for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement by Lebanon, Hezbollah and the Palestinian terrorist organizations. This agreement is not limited to the deployment of the LAF south of the Litani River; it also requires the comprehensive enforcement of both UN Resolutions 1701 and 1559, as the latter is an integral part of the former (Article 8 of Resolution 1701).
By stating that the LAF will control all population centers in the Southern Litani Area before next Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Jeffers inadvertently reinforces Hezbollah’s strategy of securing Israel’s withdrawal first to evade disarmament obligations. This outcome would undermine the very essence of the ceasefire agreement.
We strongly urge your administration to prioritize the full and effective implementation of the ceasefire, ensuring that all parties uphold their commitments in accordance with international law. Together, we can work towards a more stable and peaceful region.
With Respect and Gratitude,
The Guardians of the Cedars – Media Department –
