[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 674 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 674

Expressing the unequivocal support of the House of Representatives for 
 Israel's right to self defense in the face of an imminent nuclear or 
                      military threat from Syria.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 24, 2007

 Mr. Wexler (for himself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Burton of Indiana, 
  Mr. Linder, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Renzi) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the unequivocal support of the House of Representatives for 
 Israel's right to self defense in the face of an imminent nuclear or 
                      military threat from Syria.

Whereas on September 6, 2007, the Government of Israel justifiably conducted 
        covert military operations in Syria, bombing a suspected nuclear 
        facility;
Whereas in 1981, Israeli Defense Forces attacked and destroyed the nuclear 
        reactor at Osirak, Iraq, preventing Saddam Hussein from developing 
        nuclear weapons;
Whereas on September 6, 2007, it is reported that as many as 8 Israeli Air Force 
        fighter jets struck a Syrian nuclear weapons facility;
Whereas it has been reported that Syria is pursuing nuclear capabilities in 
        addition to its already dangerous biological and chemical weapons 
        programs;
Whereas according to a 2004 unclassified Central Intelligence Agency report on 
        Syria, ``Pakistani investigators said that they had confirmation of an 
        IAEA allegation that A.Q. Khan offered nuclear technology and hardware 
        to Syria.'';
Whereas reports suggest that the Syrian Government is working closely with the 
        North Korean Government to develop a nuclear weapons program;
Whereas Andrew Semmel, acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Nuclear 
        Nonproliferation Policy, said Syria may have had contacts with ``secret 
        suppliers'' to obtain nuclear equipment for a covert program and that 
        North Korean technicians are currently operating in Syria;
Whereas the United States military and intelligence community have tracked 
        several shipments of material they believe have left North Korea and are 
        destined for Syria that may contain high-grade metals that could be used 
        in weapons such as missiles or solid-fuel rocket technology;
Whereas it is reported that Syrian leaders have threatened Israel claiming that 
        Syria has a big surprise in store for Israel in 2007;
Whereas over the past three decades, Syria has acquired a deadly arsenal of 
        chemical weapons and surface-to-surface missiles and has reportedly 
        conducted research and development in biological weapons;
Whereas according to the Department of State, Syria has missiles capable of 
        striking anywhere in Israel and may be seeking to place a nuclear 
        warhead on Scud-C missiles it possesses;
Whereas the Government of Syria has disclosed that an explosion occurred at a 
        secret military facility in Aleppo in July 2007, while attempting to 
        weaponize a Scud-C missile with mustard gas, reportedly killing 15 
        people and injuring 50;
Whereas Syria continues to provide logistical and political assistance to the 
        terrorist organization Hezbollah and is the main conduit for the 
        transfer of sophisticated rockets and other arms to Hezbollah units in 
        violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701;
Whereas Syria has been designated by the Department of State as a sponsor of 
        international terrorism; and
Whereas the Government of Syria's continued support for international terrorist 
        organizations and its possession of weapons of mass destruction 
        represent an imminent threat to the United States, Israel, and United 
        States allies in the Middle East: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its unequivocal support for Israel's right to 
        self defense in the face of an imminent nuclear or military 
        threat from Syria;
            (2) reaffirms America's unbreakable bond with Israel and 
        pledges to continue to work with Prime Minister Olmert and his 
        government to ensure that Israel continues to receive critical 
        military and economic assistance needed to address the growing 
        security threat of Syria and Iran;
            (3) condemns the Government of Syria for its continued 
        support of terrorism and its illicit chemical, biological, and 
        nuclear weapons activities, including close cooperation with 
        the Government of North Korea;
            (4) condemns the Government of North Korea for providing 
        Syria with technology, expertise, and materials to develop 
        nuclear weapons;
            (5) condemns Syria and Iran for continuing to provide 
        military, logistical, and political support to Hezbollah and 
        Palestinian terrorist groups;
            (6) urges President George W. Bush to condemn the 
        Government of North Korea for providing Syria with nuclear 
        technology and expertise and to reexamine diplomatic 
        discussions with North Korean officials in light of nuclear 
        cooperation between Damascus and Pyongyang; and
            (7) urges President Bush and his Administration to support 
        strengthening United States sanctions against Syria, including 
        additional sanctions under the Syria Accountability and 
        Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-
        175).
                                 <all>