[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     A TRIBUTE TO THE ISRAELI MIA'S

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                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 10, 1998

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the capture of 
several Israeli soldiers who were taken prisoner by the Syrians in the 
1982 Israeli war with Lebanon.
  On June 11, 1982, an Israeli unit battled with a Syrian armored unit 
in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The Syrians succeeded in capturing Sgt. 
Zachary Baumel, 1st Sgt. Zvi Feldman and Cpt. Yehudah Katz. Upon 
arrival in Damascus, the identified tank and crew were paraded through 
the streets draped in Syrian and Palestinian flags.
  Since that terrible day in 1982, the Israeli and the United States 
Governments have been working to obtain any possible information about 
the fate of these missing soldiers, joining forces with the offices of 
the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations and 
other international bodies. According to the Geneva convention, the 
area in Lebanon where the soldiers first disappeared was continually 
controlled by Syria, therefore deeming her responsible for the 
treatment of the captured soldiers. To this day, despite the promises 
made by the Syrian Government and by the PLO, very little information 
has been forthcoming about the condition of Zachary Baumel, Zvi 
Feldman, and Yehudah Katz.
  June 11 marks the anniversary of the day that these soldiers were 
reported missing in action. Sixteen pain-filled years have already 
passed since the families of the MIA's have last seen their sons, and 
yet President Assad has still not revealed their whereabouts.
  One of these missing soldiers, Zachary Baumel, is an American citizen 
from my district in Brooklyn, NY. A dedicated basketball fan, Zachary 
began his studies at the Hebrew School in Boro Park. In 1979, he moved 
to Israel with other family members, and continued his education at 
Yeshivat Hesder, where religious studies are integrated with army 
service. When the war with Lebanon began, Zachary was completing his 
military service and was looking forward to attending Hebrew 
University, where he had been accepted to study psychology. But fate 
had unfortunately decreed otherwise and on June 11, 1982 he vanished.
  Zachary's parents, Yonah and Miriam Baumel have been relentless in 
their pursuit of information about Zachary and his compatriots. I have 
worked closely with the Baumels, as well as the Union of Orthodox 
Jewish Congregations of America, the American Coalition for Missing 
Israeli Soldiers, and the MIA Task Force of the conference of 
Presidents of major American Jewish organizations. The Stella K. 
Abraham High School for Girls forged a project that has increased 
awareness and support for the MIAs plight for freedom. These groups 
have been at the forefront of this pursuit of justice. I want to 
recognize their devoted efforts and ask my colleagues to join me in 
commending their efforts. These families have been without their 
children for sixteen years. Answers must be found.

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