[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S4325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 116--COMMENDING ISRAEL'S REDEPLOYMENT FROM 
                            SOUTHERN LEBANON

  Mr. LOTT (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Helms, Mr. Biden, Mr. Graham, 
Mr. Baucus, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. 
Murray, and Mr. Conrad) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
which was considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 116

       Whereas Israel has been actively seeking a comprehensive 
     peace with all of her neighbors to bring about an end to the 
     Arab-Israeli conflict;
       Whereas southern Lebanon has for decades been the staging 
     area for attacks against Israeli cities and towns by 
     Hezbollah and by Palestinian terrorists, resulting in the 
     death or wounding of hundreds of Israeli civilians;
       Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 425 
     (March 19, 1978) calls upon Israel to withdraw its forces 
     from all Lebanese territory;
       Whereas the Government of Israel unanimously agreed to 
     implement Security Council Resolution 425 and has stated its 
     intention of redeploying its forces to the international 
     border by July 7, 2000;
       Whereas Security Council Resolution 425 also calls for 
     ``strict respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty 
     and political independence of Lebanon within its 
     internationally recognized boundaries'' and establishes a 
     United Nations interim force to help restore Lebanese 
     sovereignty; and
       Whereas the Government of Syria currently deploys 30,000 
     Syrian troops in Lebanon: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commends Israel for its decision to withdraw its forces 
     from southern Lebanon and for taking risks for peace in the 
     Middle East;
       (2) calls upon the United Nations Security Council--
       (A) to recognize Israel's fulfillment of its obligations 
     under Security Council Resolution 425 and to provide the 
     necessary resources for the United Nations Interim Force in 
     Lebanon (UNIFIL) to implement its mandate under that 
     resolution; and
       (B) to insist upon the withdrawal of all foreign forces 
     from Lebanese territory so that Lebanon may exercise 
     sovereignty throughout its territory;
       (3) urges UNIFIL, in cooperation with the Lebanese Armed 
     Forces, to gain full control over southern Lebanon, including 
     taking actions to ensure the disarmament of Hezbollah and all 
     other such groups, in order to eliminate all terrorist 
     activity originating from that area;
       (4) appeals to the Government of Lebanon to grant clemency 
     and assure the safety and rehabilitation into Lebanese 
     society of all members of the South Lebanon Army and their 
     families;
       (5) calls upon the international community to ensure that 
     southern Lebanon does not once again become a staging ground 
     for attacks against Israel and to cooperate in bringing about 
     the reconstruction and reintegration of southern Lebanon;
       (6) recognizes Israel's right, enshrined in Chapter 7, 
     Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, to defend itself 
     and its people from attack and reasserts United States 
     support for maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge in 
     order to ensure Israel's long-term security; and
       (7) urges all parties to reenter the peace process with the 
     Government of Israel in order to bring peace and stability to 
     all the Middle East.

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