[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 676 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 676

  To locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, a citizen of the 
      United States, and other Israeli soldiers missing in action.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 22, 1999

Mr. Campbell (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Smith of New Hampshire, Mr. 
  Kerry, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
Ashcroft, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Allard, and Mr. 
   Santorum) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, a citizen of the 
      United States, and other Israeli soldiers missing in action.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Zachary Baumel, a citizen of the United States serving 
        in the Israeli military forces, has been missing in action 
        since June 1982 when he was captured by forces affiliated with 
        the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) following a tank 
        battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya'akub in Lebanon.
            (2) Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, Israeli citizens serving 
        in the Israeli military forces, have been missing in action 
        since June 1982 when they were also captured by these same 
        forces in a tank battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya'akub in 
        Lebanon.
            (3) These three soldiers were last known to be in the hands 
        of a Palestinian faction splintered from the PLO and operating 
        in Syrian-controlled territory, thus making this a matter 
        within the responsibility of the Government of Syria.
            (4) Diplomatic efforts to secure their release have been 
        unsuccessful, although PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat delivered one-
        half of Zachary Baumel's dog tag to Israeli government 
        authorities.
            (5) In the Gaza-Jericho agreement between the Palestinian 
        Authority and the Government of Israel of May 4, 1994, 
        Palestinian officials agreed to cooperate with Israel in 
        locating and working for the return of Israeli soldiers missing 
        in action.

SEC. 2. ACTIONS BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

    (a) Responsibility of Secretary of State.--The Secretary of State 
shall raise the matter of Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz, and Zvi Feldman 
on an urgent basis with appropriate government officials of Syria, 
Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, and with other governments in the 
region and other governments elsewhere which in the Secretary's view 
may be helpful in locating and securing the return of these soldiers.
    (b) Cooperation as a Factor in Determinations of Assistance.--
Decisions with regard to United States economic and other forms of 
assistance to Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, and other 
governments in the region, and United States policy towards these 
governments and authorities, should take into consideration the 
willingness of these governments and authorities to assist in locating 
and securing the return of these soldiers.

SEC. 3. REPORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

    (a) Initial Report.--Ninety days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report in writing to 
Congress detailing the Secretary's consultations with governments 
pursuant to section 2(a) and the changes in United States policies made 
pursuant to section 2(b). The report shall be a public document and may 
include a classified annex.
    (b) Subsequent Reports.--After the initial report to Congress, the 
Secretary of State shall submit a report in writing to Congress within 
15 days whenever any additional information from any source relating to 
these individuals arises. The report shall be a public document and may 
include a classified annex.
    (c) Congressional Recipients of Reports.--The reports to Congress 
identified in subsections (a) and (b) shall be made to the Committee on 
International Relations of the House of Representatives and to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
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