[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 45 (Monday, March 22, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3057-S3058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Smith of New 
        Hampshire, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Lieberman, 
        Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
        Schumer, Mr. Allard, and Mr. Santorum):
  S. 676. A bill to locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, a 
citizen of the United States, and other Israeli soldiers missing in 
action; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I continue to voice my support for 
the Middle East peace process and my work on behalf of soldiers Missing 
in Action and Prisoners of War. During the last Congress, I introduced 
the Missing Service Personnel Act, provisions of which were signed into 
law to restore critical Department of Defense procedures for 
identifying and recovering POW/MIAs. The Act ensures that our 
government is and will do everything in its power to return those lost 
during times of conflict. Last month, I introduced S. 484, the ``Bring 
Them Home Alive Act of 1999'' which creates a significant incentive for 
foreign nationals to return any possibly surviving American POW/MIAs.
  Mr. President, today I introduce legislation that continues my 
support for POW/MIAs and assists our Israeli allies in their efforts to 
learn the fate of several soldiers who were overtaken by Syrian forces 
in June 1982. I am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senators 
Torricelli, McCain, Kerry of Massachusetts, Smith of New Hampshire, 
Lugar, Coverdell, Lieberman, Lautenberg, Ashcroft, Kennedy, Schumer, 
Allard, and Santorum. This bill is a companion to legislation which 
Congressmen Lantos, Gilman, and 65 other members introduced in the 
House.
  Reports indicate that three soldiers of an Israeli tank crew were 
captured by Syrian forces at the 1982 battle of Sultan Yaqub in 
northern Lebanon. These men were later paraded through the streets of 
the Syrian capital of Damascus. They were never seen nor heard from 
again. Zachary Baumel, an American citizen and sergeant in the Israeli 
Defense Forces was one of those men. For over sixteen years, the Syrian 
government and the leadership of the PLO have failed to cooperate in 
the effort to determine their fate. In 1993, Yasser Arafat produced the 
most tangible link to the missing men, returning half of Baumel's 
identification dog tag. For the last five years, however, no additional 
information has been forthcoming.
  The bill I introduce today requires the State Department to raise 
this issue with the Syrian government and leaders of the Palestinian 
Authority and provide the Congress with a report on the information 
that has been uncovered. It also requires that Palestinian and Syrian 
cooperation in this effort be a factor in the consideration for future 
U.S. assistance.
  This legislation is a targeted approach to address the unique and 
compelling merits of this case in which an American-born Israeli 
soldier and his comrades remain unaccounted for in a time of war. As 
Americans know all too well, the bitter legacy of missing soldiers and 
POWs can haunt a nation and interfere with efforts to build better 
relations between former enemies. Clearly, resolving the issue of the 
MIAs can only strengthen American efforts to make Middle East peace 
into a reality.
  This is the first week of the Jewish month of Nissan--the month of 
the Jewish holiday of Passover--the ancient festival that celebrates 
freedom. I can think of no time that is more appropriate to propose 
this legislation, and to hopefully begin a process that will help to 
resolve the fate of Zachary Baumel and his comrades after so many 
years.
  I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in the Record and I 
urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 676

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Zachary Baumel, a citizen of the United States serving 
     in the Israeli military forces, has been missing in action 
     since June 1982 when he was captured by forces affiliated

[[Page S3058]]

     with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) following 
     a tank battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya'akub in 
     Lebanon.
       (2) 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.
       (3) 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.
       (4) 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.
       (5) 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. ACTIONS BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

       (a) Responsibility of Secretary of State.--The Secretary 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 Secretary's view may be 
     helpful in locating and securing the return of these 
     soldiers.
       (b) Cooperation as a Factor in Determinations of 
     Assistance.--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. REPORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

       (a) Initial Report.--Ninety days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a 
     report in writing to Congress detailing the Secretary's 
     consultations with governments pursuant to section 2(a) and 
     the changes in United States policies made pursuant to 
     section 2(b). The report shall be a public document and may 
     include a classified annex.
       (b) Subsequent Reports.--After the initial report to 
     Congress, the Secretary of State shall submit a report in 
     writing to Congress within 15 days whenever any additional 
     information from any source relating to these individuals 
     arises. The report shall be a public document and may include 
     a classified annex.
       (c) Congressional Recipients of Reports.--The reports to 
     Congress identified in subsections (a) and (b) 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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