[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 417 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 417

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the capture of Zachary Baumel, a 
   United States citizen serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, and 
     calling on the Governments of Syria and Lebanon to provide an 
 accounting for, and to secure the release of, Zachary Baumel and all 
     other Israeli hostages held under Lebanese or Syrian control.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 12, 2002

Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Cantor, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Weiner, 
  Mr. Saxton, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Berman, and Mrs. Maloney of New York) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the capture of Zachary Baumel, a 
   United States citizen serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, and 
     calling on the Governments of Syria and Lebanon to provide an 
 accounting for, and to secure the release of, Zachary Baumel and all 
     other Israeli hostages held under Lebanese or Syrian control.

Whereas Zachary Baumel, a United States citizen serving in the Israeli military 
        forces, has been missing in action since June 11, 1982, when he and 
        fellow soldiers Yehuda Katz and Tzvi Feldman were captured by forces 
        affiliated with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) following 
        a tank battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya'akub in Lebanon;
Whereas these three soldiers were last known to be in the hands of a Palestinian 
        faction operating in Syrian-occupied territory in Lebanon, thus making 
        this a matter within the responsibility of the Government of Syria;
Whereas in December 1993 PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat delivered one-half of 
        Zachary Baumel's dog tag to Israeli Government authorities;
Whereas Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad was captured on October 16, 1986, 
        in Lebanon by Amal, a Lebanese Shiite organization, after ejecting from 
        his damaged aircraft;
Whereas Israel received pictures and letters from Ron Arad before he disappeared 
        in 1988 after falling into the hands of Iranian backed forces in 
        Lebanon;
Whereas Guy Hever, an Israeli soldier, reportedly last seen near the Syria-
        Israel border, disappeared after leaving his base on August 17, 1997;
Whereas on October 7, 2000, Hizballah units, in clear violation of international 
        law, crossed the Lebanese border into Israel and kidnaped three Israeli 
        soldiers, Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad;
Whereas on October 15, 2000, Hizballah announced that Israeli civilian Elchanan 
        Tannenbaum, missing after traveling to Belgium, was being held by 
        Hizballah;
Whereas Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, Omar Souad, and Elchanan Tannenbaum are 
        being held by Hizballah in Lebanon;
Whereas the 2001 Department of State ``Patterns of Global Terrorism'' Report 
        states that Syria provides Hizballah refuge, basing privileges, 
        substantial amounts of financial assistance, training, weapons, 
        explosives, and political, diplomatic, and logistical support;
Whereas the 2001 State Department terrorism report also states that the Lebanese 
        Government condones Hizballah's actions against Israel and has 
        recognized Hizballah as a legal operation and allows Hizballah to 
        maintain offices in Beirut;
Whereas Syria, a non-permanent United Nations Security Council member, has 
        recently assumed the rotating Presidency of the Security Council;
Whereas the taking of hostages or participating as an accomplice in the taking 
        of hostages is considered an act of terror under the International 
        Convention Against the Taking of Hostages;
Whereas Syria, Lebanon, and Iran voted in favor of the Universal Declaration of 
        Human Rights in the United Nations General Assembly;
Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international 
        bodies have had no access to any of the aforementioned individuals;
Whereas the Governments of Syria, Lebanon, and Iran have refused to cooperate 
        with previous United States efforts to secure the release of the 
        aforementioned individuals;
Whereas section 2 of Public Law 106-89 directs the Secretary of State to raise 
        the issue of missing Israeli soldiers Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz, and 
        Tzvi Feldman with officials of Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority 
        and other governments in the Middle East and specifies that, in deciding 
        whether or not to provide United States assistance to any government or 
        authority which may have information concerning the whereabouts of these 
        soldiers, the President should take into consideration the willingness 
        of these governments and authorities to assist in locating and securing 
        the return of these soldiers;
Whereas section 3 of Public Law 106-89 directs the Department of State to report 
        to Congress on the efforts described in the preceding clause;
Whereas diplomatic efforts to secure the release of these individuals have been 
        unsuccessful; and
Whereas Zachary Baumel is a United States citizen and seizure of a United States 
        citizen as a hostage anywhere in the world is a crime under section 1203 
        of title 18, United States Code: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) calls on the Governments of Syria and Lebanon to 
        immediately and unconditionally take all necessary measures to 
        provide the fullest possible accounting for, and to secure the 
        release of, United States citizen Zachary Baumel and all other 
        Israeli hostages held under Lebanese or Syrian control;
            (2) encourages the Secretary of State to vigorously carry 
        out the provisions of Public Law 106-89;
            (3) expresses solidarity with the Government of Israel and 
        fully supports its efforts to return Israeli hostages to their 
        families; and
            (4) expresses solidarity with the families of Israel's 
        hostages and fully supports their heroic efforts to bring their 
        loved ones home.
                                 <all>