[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 LEGISLATION COMMENDING ISRAEL'S WITHDRAWAL FROM LEBANON, H. CON. RES. 
                                  331

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to alert my colleagues to the 
introduction of H. Con. Res. 331, by our distinguished Majority Leader, 
Representative Armey of Texas, which commends Israel's decision to 
withdraw its forces from Southern Lebanon. I am more than pleased to 
lend my cosponsorship and strong support to this resolution, which also 
calls on the U.N. Security Council to recognize Israel's fulfillment of 
Resolution 425, and to insist that all foreign forces be withdrawn from 
Lebanon. Also cosponsoring H. Con. Res. 331 are the distinguished 
minority leader, Mr. Gephardt of Missouri, as well as the ranking 
minority member of our House International Relations Committee, Mr. 
Gejdenson of Connecticut.
  Israel's courageous decision to pull out of Lebanon demonstrates its 
strong commitment to a peaceful resolution to the conflicts that 
trouble the region. I hope that Israel's courage is reciprocated by 
Syria and Iran in their dealings with Lebanon. By withdrawing from 
Lebanon, Israel will be in full compliance with United Nations Security 
Council Resolution 425.
  Mr. Speaker, given the prior use of Southern Lebanon as a launching 
pad for attacks on Israel, the United Nations and the government of 
Lebanon must provide the necessary resources for UNIFIL and the 
Lebanese Armed Forces to stabilize Southern Lebanon. A major priority 
must also be to affirm Israel's right, as noted in Chapter 7, Article 
51 of the United Nations Charter, to defend itself and its civilians 
from attack. I'm pleased that H. Con. Res. 331 sends a strong, 
bipartisan message of peace and stability to the region, and I urge our 
colleagues to cosponsor this important, timely resolution.

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