[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 921 Engrossed in House (EH)]








H. Res. 921

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         July 20, 2006.
Whereas on September 12, 2005, Israel completed its unilateral withdrawal from 
        Gaza, demonstrating its willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of 
        peace;
Whereas more than 1,000 rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel since 
        Israel's disengagement;
Whereas in a completely unprovoked attack that occurred in undisputed Israeli 
        territory on June 25, 2006, Israeli Defense Forces Corporal Gilad Shalit 
        was kidnapped and is being held hostage in Gaza by a Palestinian 
        terrorist group which includes members of Hamas;
Whereas Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal, in Damascus, Syria, has 
        acknowledged the role of Hamas in holding Corporal Shalit hostage;
Whereas in a completely unprovoked attack that occurred in undisputed Israeli 
        territory on July 12, 2006, operatives of the terrorist group Hezbollah 
        operating out of southern Lebanon killed three Israeli soldiers and took 
        two others hostage;
Whereas Israel fully complied with United Nations Security Council Resolution 
        425 (1978) by completely withdrawing its forces from Lebanon, as 
        certified by the United Nations Security Council and affirmed by United 
        Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on June 16, 2000, when he said, 
        ``Israel has withdrawn from [Lebanon] in full compliance with Security 
        Council Resolution 425.'';
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004) calls for the 
        complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon and the 
        dismantlement of all independent militias in Lebanon;
Whereas despite the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, 
        the Government of Lebanon has failed to disband and disarm Hezbollah, 
        allowing Hezbollah instead to amass 13,000 rockets, including rockets 
        that are more destructive, longer-range and more accurate than rockets 
        previously used by Hezbollah, and has integrated Hezbollah into the 
        Lebanese Government;
Whereas the Government of Israel has previously shown great restraint despite 
        the fact that Hezbollah has launched at least four separate attacks into 
        Israel using rockets and ground forces over the past year;
Whereas the failure of the Government of Lebanon to implement all aspects of 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 and to extend its 
        authority throughout its territory has enabled Hezbollah to launch armed 
        attacks against Israel and recently to kidnap Israeli soldiers;
Whereas Hezbollah's strength derives significantly from the direct financial, 
        military, and political support it receives from Syria and Iran, and 
        Hezbollah also receives important support from sources within Lebanon;
Whereas Iranian Revolutionary Guards continue to operate in southern Lebanon, 
        providing support to Hezbollah and reportedly controlling its 
        operational activities;
Whereas the Government of the United States has enacted several laws, including 
        the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 
        2003 (Public Law 108-175) and the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 
        (Public Law 104-172), which call for the imposition of sanctions on 
        Syria and Iran for, among other things, their support for terrorism and 
        terrorist organizations;
Whereas the House of Representatives has repeatedly called for full 
        implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559;
Whereas section 1224 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 
        2003 (Public Law 107-228) withholds certain assistance to Lebanon 
        contingent on the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces to the 
        internationally recognized border between Lebanon and Israel and its 
        effective assertion of authority in the border area in order, among 
        other reasons, to prevent cross-border infiltration by terrorists, 
        precisely the criminal activity that has provoked the current crisis;
Whereas President George W. Bush stated on July 12, 2006, ``Hezbollah's 
        terrorist operations threaten Lebanon's security and are an affront to 
        the sovereignty of the Lebanese Government. Hezbollah's actions are not 
        in the interest of the Lebanese people, whose welfare should not be held 
        hostage to the interests of the Syrian and Iranian regimes.'', and has 
        repeatedly affirmed that Syria and Iran must be held to account for 
        their shared responsibility in the recent attacks;
Whereas the United States recognizes that some members of the democratically-
        elected Lebanese parliament are working to build an autonomous and 
        sovereign Lebanon and supports their efforts; and
Whereas both Hezbollah and Hamas refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist and 
        call for the destruction of Israel: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms its steadfast support for the State of Israel;
            (2) condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for engaging in unprovoked and 
        reprehensible armed attacks against Israel on undisputed Israeli 
        territory, for taking hostages, for killing Israeli soldiers, and for 
        continuing to indiscriminately target Israeli civilian populations with 
        their rockets and missiles;
            (3) further condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for cynically exploiting 
        civilian populations as shields, locating their equipment and bases of 
        operation, including their rockets and other armaments, amidst civilian 
        populations, including in homes and mosques;
            (4) recognizes Israel's longstanding commitment to minimizing 
        civilian loss and welcomes Israel's continued efforts to prevent 
        civilian casualties;
            (5) demands the Governments of Iran and Syria to direct Hamas and 
        Hezbollah to immediately and unconditionally release Israeli soldiers 
        which they hold captive;
            (6) affirms that all governments that have provided continued 
        support to Hamas or Hezbollah share responsibility for the hostage-
        taking and attacks against Israel and, as such, should be held 
        accountable for their actions;
            (7) condemns the Governments of Iran and Syria for their continued 
        support for Hezbollah and Hamas in their armed attacks against Israelis 
        and their other terrorist activities;
            (8) supports Israel's right to take appropriate action to defend 
        itself, including to conduct operations both in Israel and in the 
        territory of nations which pose a threat to it, which is in accordance 
        with international law, including Article 51 of the United Nations 
        Charter;
            (9) commends the President of the United States for fully supporting 
        Israel as it responds to these armed attacks by terrorist organizations 
        and their state sponsors;
            (10) urges the President of the United States to bring the full 
        force of political, diplomatic, and economic sanctions available to the 
        Government of the United States against the Governments of Syria and 
        Iran;
            (11) demands the Government of Lebanon to do everything in its power 
        to find and free the kidnapped Israeli soldiers being held in the 
        territory of Lebanon;
            (12) calls on the United Nations Security Council to condemn these 
        unprovoked acts and to take action to ensure full and immediate 
        implementation of United Nations Security Council 1559 (2004), which 
        requires Hezbollah to be dismantled and the departure of all Syrian 
        personnel and Iranian Revolutionary Guards from Lebanon;
            (13) expresses its condolences to all families of innocent victims 
        of recent violence; and
            (14) declares its continued commitment to working with Israel and 
        other United States allies in combating terrorism worldwide.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.