[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 56 (Monday, April 29, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CEASE-FIRE IN LEBANON

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to applaud the 
decision of the parties to the crisis in Lebanon to institute a cease-
fire. Every day last week, I urged Secretary Christopher in the 
strongest possible terms to do everything in his power to cease the 
hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. I would like to 
congratulate Secretary Christopher for his intense efforts in 
negotiating this cease-fire. It is my sincere hope that the parties 
will abide by the cease-fire, and eventually work toward a 
comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
  The cease-fire is based upon an agreement on a set of understandings, 
the most important of which is the agreement not to fire weapons at 
civilians or civilian populated areas. With over 150 civilians dead as 
a result of the violence in Lebanon, the urgency of ceasing hostilities 
aimed at civilians is of utmost priority.
  Now that an agreement to end the hostilities has been reached Mr. 
President, I urge the administration to contribute more financial 
resources to assist the civilians in Lebanon. As part of the most 
recent cease-fire agreement, the United States, France, Syria, Lebanon, 
Israel, Russia, and the European Union have agreed to form a 
consultative group which will assist in the reconstruction needs of 
Lebanon. It is my hope that the United States will take a leadership 
role in the consultative group by granting considerably more additional 
assistance to Lebanon than what it already has.

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