[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 43 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E497-E498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 LEGISLATION FOR ACTION ON MISSING ISRAELI SOLDIERS--H.R. 1175 DIRECTS 
   THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO PRESS THIS MATTER WITH MID-EAST GOVERNMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 18, 1999

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, almost 17 years ago, three Israeli soldiers 
were captured in northeastern Lebanon following a tank battle with 
Syrian and Palestinian forces near the town of Sultan Yaqub. One of the 
men was Sgt. Zachary Baumel, an American citizen living in Israel. His 
parents also live in Israel and also are American citizens. The other 
two Israeli soldiers captured at Sultan Yaqub are Tzvi Feldman and 
Yehuda Katz.
  According to press and intelligence reports, a pro-Syrian faction of 
the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) had custody of these 
three men initially, but the faction later split from the PLO and took 
the three prisoners with them. Just hours after the soldiers were 
captured, western journalists in Damascus and Syrian radio reported 
that three Israeli soldiers were paraded through the streets of 
Damascus in a victory parade.
  Over 10 years later, in 1993, the families of the MIAs hoped their 
ordeal might be over when Palestinian Authority Chairman, Yasser 
Arafat, returned half of Baumel's army dogtag to Prime Minister Yitzhak 
Rabin and promised to provide additional information regarding the MIAs 
of Sultan Yaqub. Over 5 years have passed since that time, and no 
additional information has been forthcoming from Chairman Arafat.
  According to the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv (April 24, 1994), French 
President Jacques Chirac raised the issue of the three prisoners during 
a visit to Lebanon. He reported on his conversations in Beirut: ``I 
spoke to my friend, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, and he told me in no 
uncertain terms that only [Syrian President Hafez al] Assad knows what 
happened to the [Israeli] POWs.'' Syrian officials, however, have 
repeatedly denied knowledge of the missing men.
  Syrian practice in the past has been to deny publicly holding such 
individuals. For example, the Syrians repeatedly denied knowledge of a 
group of Palestinians whom they held for over

[[Page E498]]

a decade; the Palestinian prisoners only became known when the Syrian 
government released them in 1995. On the basis of this experience with 
Syria, it is quite possible that these Israeli MIAs are still alive and 
under Syrian control.
  Mr. Speaker, I have chosen to introduce this legislation today 
because this day holds great significance for the Jewish people. Today 
is the first day of the month of Nissan on the Jewish calendar. Nissan 
is a very important month because Jews from around the world celebrate 
Passover and join with their families in the observance of the holiday 
of freedom in this month.
  It is in the spirit of this month that I ask my colleagues in the 
Congress to join me in helping Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman, and Yehuda 
Katz return to their homes. Sitting in the gallery today is Mrs. Miriam 
Baumel, Zachary Baumel's mother, whose tireless efforts on behalf of 
H.R. 1175 are a testament of her deep love for her son and her strong 
support for this legislation. Miriam and husband, Yona, have visited 
communities across the country and have met with numerous Members of 
Congress and congressional staff in their tireless effort to rally 
support for their son and to end this family tragedy.
  I have confidence in this house's ability to do what is right. Mr. 
Speaker. The Baumel, Feldman, and Katz families should not have to 
spend one more night worrying about the fate of Zachary, Tzvi, and 
Yehuda.

  H.R. 1175 directs the Department of State to raise the fate of these 
Israeli soldiers with the Palestinian Authority and leaders of the 
governments of Syria, Lebanon, and other countries in the Middle East 
in an effort to locate and secure the return of these soldiers. This 
legislation also specifies that U.S. aid to these governments ``should 
take into consideration the willingness of these governments and 
authorities to assist in locating and securing the return of these 
soldiers.'' The State Department is directed to report to the Congress 
concerning these efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, our legislation is introduced in the hope that we can 
find answers to the questions that have haunted the Baumel, Katz, and 
Feldman families for almost 17 years. I urge my colleagues to support 
this legislation and help to put an end to this tragedy.

                               H.R. 1175

       To locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, an 
     American Citizen, and other Israeli soldiers missing in 
     action.
       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that
       A. Zachary Baumel, an American citizen serving in the 
     Israeli military forces, has been missing in action since 
     June 1982 when he was captured by forces affiliated with the 
     Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) following a tank 
     battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya'akub in Lebanon;
       B. Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, Israeli citizens serving in 
     the Israeli military forces, have been missing in action 
     since June 1982 when they were also captured by these same 
     forces in a tank battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya'akub 
     in Lebanon;
       C. These three soldiers were last known to be in the hands 
     of a Palestinian faction splintered from the PLO and 
     operating in Syrian-controlled territory, thus making this a 
     matter within the responsibility of the government of Syria;
       D. Diplomatic efforts to secure their release have been 
     unsuccessful, although PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat delivered 
     one half of Zachary Baumel's dog tag to Israeli government 
     authorities; and
       E. In the Gaza-Jericho agreement between the Palestinian 
     Authority and the government of Israel of May 4, 1994, 
     Palestinian officials agreed to cooperate with Israel in 
     locating and working for the return of Israeli soldiers 
     missing in action.

     SEC. 2. ACTION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

       A. The Department of State shall raise the matter of 
     Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman on an urgent 
     basis with appropriate government officials of Syria, 
     Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, and with other 
     governments in the region and other governments elsewhere 
     which in the Department's view may be helpful in locating and 
     securing the return of these soldiers.
       B. Decisions with regard to United States economic and 
     other forms of assistance to Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian 
     Authority, and other governments in the region and United 
     States policy towards these governments and authorities 
     should take into consideration the willingness of these 
     governments and authorities to assist in locating and 
     securing the return of these soldiers.

     SEC. 3. REPORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

       A. Ninety days after the enactment of this legislation, the 
     Department of State shall deliver a report in writing to the 
     Congress detailing its consultations with governments 
     pursuant to section 2(A) of this act and United States 
     policies affected pursuant to section 2(B) of this act. This 
     report shall be a public document. The report may include a 
     classified annex.
       B. After the initial report to the Congress, the Department 
     of State shall report in writing within 15 days whenever any 
     additional information from any source relating to these 
     individuals arises. Such report shall be a public document. 
     The report may include a classified annex.
       C. The reports to the Congress identified in paragraph (A) 
     and (B) above shall be made to the Committee on International 
     Relations of the House of Representatives and to the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

     

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