[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 116 Referred in House (RFH)]

  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 116


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 24, 2000

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
        Commending Israel's redeployment from southern Lebanon.

Whereas Israel has been actively seeking a comprehensive peace with all of her 
        neighbors to bring about an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict;
Whereas southern Lebanon has for decades been the staging area for attacks 
        against Israeli cities and towns by Hezbollah and by Palestinian 
        terrorists, resulting in the death or wounding of hundreds of Israeli 
        civilians;
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 425 (March 19, 1978) calls 
        upon Israel to withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory;
Whereas the Government of Israel unanimously agreed to implement Security 
        Council Resolution 425 and has stated its intention of redeploying its 
        forces to the international border by July 7, 2000;
Whereas Security Council Resolution 425 also calls for ``strict respect for the 
        territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon 
        within its internationally recognized boundaries'' and establishes a 
        United Nations interim force to help restore Lebanese sovereignty; and
Whereas the Government of Syria currently deploys 30,000 Syrian troops in 
        Lebanon: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) commends Israel for its decision to withdraw its forces 
        from southern Lebanon and for taking risks for peace in the 
        Middle East;
            (2) calls upon the United Nations Security Council--
                    (A) to recognize Israel's fulfillment of its 
                obligations under Security Council Resolution 425 and 
                to provide the necessary resources for the United 
                Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to implement 
                its mandate under that resolution; and
                    (B) to insist upon the withdrawal of all foreign 
                forces from Lebanese territory so that Lebanon may 
                exercise sovereignty throughout its territory;
            (3) urges UNIFIL, in cooperation with the Lebanese Armed 
        Forces, to gain full control over southern Lebanon, including 
        taking actions to ensure the disarmament of Hezbollah and all 
        other such groups, in order to eliminate all terrorist activity 
        originating from that area;
            (4) appeals to the Government of Lebanon to grant clemency 
        and assure the safety and rehabilitation into Lebanese society 
        of all members of the South Lebanon Army and their families;
            (5) calls upon the international community to ensure that 
        southern Lebanon does not once again become a staging ground 
        for attacks against Israel and to cooperate in bringing about 
        the reconstruction and reintegration of southern Lebanon;
            (6) recognizes Israel's right, enshrined in Chapter 7, 
        Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, to defend itself and 
        its people from attack and reasserts United States support for 
        maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge in order to 
        ensure Israel's long-term security; and
            (7) urges all parties to reenter the peace process with the 
        Government of Israel in order to bring peace and stability to 
        all the Middle East.

            Passed the Senate May 23, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.