[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HELP GIVE PEACE TO THE FAMILY OF ZACHARY BAUMEL--SUPPORT H.R. 1175

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                           HON. DAVID DREIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 1999

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, on June 11, 1982, Zachary Baumel, an 
American citizen serving in the Israeli army, was captured along with 
four other members of his tank battalion in a battle with Palestinian 
and Syrian forces near the Lebanese town of Sultan Yaqub. While two of 
the captured soldiers were later released, Baumel and two other MIAs 
remain unaccounted for, despite evidence that they were probably 
captured alive. Like any parents living through the nightmare of a 
missing child, Zachary's parents, Yona and Miriam Baumel, have been 
unrelenting in the search for their son.
  The Baumels have met with officials around the world to follow up on 
leads provided by various individuals claiming to know of Zachary's 
whereabouts. Unfortunately, they have yet to reach any sort of closure. 
While I sincerely hope that their personal search reunites them with 
Zachary, I believe that the U.S. government should make every effort to 
determine Zachary's fate and help bring peace to the Baumel family. 
H.R. 1175, which would require the State Department to step up efforts 
in locating and securing the return of Zachary Baumel, as well as other 
Israeli soldiers missing in action, is a step in that direction. I have 
cosponsored this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to 
support me in this effort.

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