[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 89 (Monday, June 25, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H3487-H3488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CALLING UPON HEZBOLLAH TO ALLOW RED CROSS TO VISIT FOUR ABDUCTED 
                                ISRAELIS

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 99) expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives that Lebanon, Syria, and Iran should call upon 
Hezbollah to allow representatives of the International Committee of 
the Red Cross to visit four abducted Israelis, Adi Avitan, Binyamin 
Avraham, Omar Souad, and Elchanan Tannenbaum, presently held by 
Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 99

       Whereas on October 7, 2000, Hezbollah units, in clear 
     violation of international law, crossed the Lebanese border 
     into Israel and kidnapped three Israeli soldiers, Adi Avitan, 
     Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad;
       Whereas on October 15, 2000, Hezbollah announced that it 
     had abducted a fourth Israeli, Elchanan Tannenbaum;
       Whereas these captives are being held by Hezbollah in 
     Lebanon;
       Whereas the 1999 Department of State report on foreign 
     terrorist organizations stated that Hezbollah receives 
     substantial amounts of financial assistance, training, 
     weapons, explosives, and political, diplomatic, and 
     organizational assistance from Iran and Syria;
       Whereas Syria voted in favor of the Universal Declaration 
     of Human Rights in the United Nations General Assembly;
       Whereas Lebanon voted in favor of the Universal Declaration 
     of Human Rights in the United Nations General Assembly;
       Whereas Iran voted in favor of the Universal Declaration of 
     Human Rights in the United Nations General Assembly;
       Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross has 
     made numerous attempts to gain access to assess the condition 
     of these prisoners; and
       Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross has 
     been denied access to these prisoners: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that Lebanon, Syria, and Iran should call 
     upon Hezbollah to allow representatives of the International 
     Committee of the Red Cross to visit four abducted Israelis, 
     Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, Omar Souad, and Elchanan 
     Tannenbaum, presently held by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, even in the midst of war or violent conflict, the need 
for some limits must be underlined. Those limits are of crucial 
importance in that they remind us of our essential humanity. When 
humanitarian standards are ignored, we need to call them to the 
attention of those who seem to be violating them. In the case of the 
individuals mentioned in the resolution now before us, who are Israeli 
soldiers and civilians, the rules are, in fact, being ignored. This 
resolution relates to several Israeli soldiers and one civilian who 
have been kidnapped from Israel itself or in Europe. Their captors have 
admitted holding them and they have said that they are alive, but that 
is all that is known about them.
  In defiance of international norms, their captors are not permitting 
the International Committee of the Red Cross to have access to them. Of 
course, the captives should be treated humanely. Of course, they should 
be released, but they should certainly, at the very least, be provided 
with protections of international humanitarian law. The International 
Committee of the Red Cross should be provided with access to them so 
that their welfare can be ascertained and other appropriate protections 
be afforded to them. It is cynical and cruel for Hezbollah to deny the 
ICRC access to them. The real harm is being done to their families who 
wait for word of their welfare.
  Madam Speaker, let me just say that the governments of Lebanon, 
Syria, and Iran either fund Hezbollah or allow it to operate on their 
territory. This resolution asks those governments to use their 
influence to ask Hezbollah to do the right thing. It is not too much to 
ask. I request that my colleagues join me in supporting this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman of the full 
committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde); the ranking member 
of the full committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos); and 
the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman); and the ranking Democrat of the 
Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Ackerman) for moving this bill through their committees.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) for 
sponsoring it. It is a good resolution and it deserves the support of 
this body.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith), for his words in support of this resolution; and I rise in 
strong support of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the chairman of the full 
committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde); our distinguished 
ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos); my 
Republican colleagues, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Kirk), and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for their work; 
and my other colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), for 
helping to get this resolution to the floor for quick consideration 
today.
  In October 2000, Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad were 
abducted while on a routine patrol of Israel's northern border. A 
fourth man, Elchanan Tannenbaum, a reservist, was taken while on a 
business trip in Europe.
  At the present time, these men are believed to be held by the 
Hezbollah on Lebanese soil. The United Nations Secretary General Kofi 
Annan and the International Committee of the Red Cross have made 
numerous overtures to Hezbollah in an effort to gain access to assess 
the physical condition and well-being of these prisoners. The Hezbollah 
has rejected these requests each and every time.
  The continued detention of these men by Hezbollah troops is 
unacceptable and must be addressed immediately.
  The conditions of their capture and the subject of detention run 
completely counter to the international standards and laws. Given that 
the State Department Report on Terrorism has named Iran and Syria as 
the patron states of Hezbollah, we must hold the governments in Tehran 
and Damascus responsible for the well-being of these men.
  As signatories to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Iran and 
Syria have a responsibility to the international community to take 
concrete steps to encourage Hezbollah to permit this visit to take 
place. President Khatami and President Assad have made statements 
regarding the desire to join the community of nations. If these 
statements truly represent the desires of Iran and Syria, I ask them to 
take the first step toward achieving that objective by exerting their 
considerable influence over Hezbollah to allow the International 
Committee of the Red Cross to do their job without further delay.
  I first met the families of these men on a visit to Israel earlier 
this year in January with Members from New York, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Weiner) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler). It was 
my hope

[[Page H3488]]

 that by the time we met again that their sons and fathers would be 
home.
  Last month, I stood beside them once again here in Washington, but 
the void left by their sons and fathers still remains. I know that the 
families are grateful that they need not fight for their sons and 
fathers alone. They are joined by well over 70 Members of the House and 
the Senate who have cosponsored this resolution before us. We send a 
strong signal to the patron states of Hezbollah; but most of all, we 
must send hope to Adi, to Binyamin, to Omar, and Elchanan and their 
families. We can do just that by passing this resolution today.
  Therefore, Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Resolution 99, a resolution to urge Lebanon, Syria, and Iran to allow 
the International Red Cross to visit the four abducted Israelis. Many 
of my constituents have contacted me to voice their concerns for the 
Israeli citizen and the three Israeli soldiers that were taken hostage. 
I recently received a group of letters from the fifth grade class at 
the Jacobson Sinai Academy of North Dade, asking me to ``imagine how 
their families are crying from sorrow because their child has been 
kidnapped.'' I believe Congress has a responsibility to push for 
International Red Cross intervention to check on the status of the 
captured Israelis.
  We should continue diplomatic efforts to seek the help of Syria and 
Iran in opening a dialogue with the Hezbollah. H. Res. 99 sends an 
important message to the international community that these hostages 
have not been forgotten, even while the security situation in the 
Middle East has deteriorated since last fall. I urge the House to 
unanimously pass this resolution and continue to work towards a lasting 
peace in the Middle East.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume 
and ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.
  It is with regret that we have to bring this resolution before the 
House today, but it is necessary to do so, because of an ongoing human 
tragedy--the capture of several individuals by a terrorist band 
operating with the support, or perhaps the acquiescence, of three 
Middle Eastern states, and which is holding them without providing any 
access by international humanitarian organizations.
  I want to express my appreciation for the efforts of the gentleman 
from New York, Mr. Crowley, and the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Kirk, 
who have worked so diligently on this resolution. Also, I want to thank 
the Chairman of the Committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) 
and my colleagues, the gentleman from New York, (Mr. Ackerman), our 
subcommittee Ranking Member, and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos), the full Committee ranking member.
  Last October, Hezbulloh terrorists crossed the Israeli border near 
the so-called Shebaa Farms area and captured 3 soldiers. Later that 
month, they kidnapped an Israeli businessman in Europe.
  This resolution is not just about the legality of the captivity of 
these individuals, although of course they should be released. The 
narrow question we are focusing is on whether they should be allowed 
visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross--and who should 
be making that appeal to their captors.
  There is no question about who is responsible for this act--
Hezbulloh. Those countries which allow Hezbollah to operate, or which 
fund it--namely Iran, Syria, and Lebanon--are in a position to 
influence this request.
  We are asking that they would use their influence. It's just that 
simple. That is what this resolution is seeking.
  Accordingly, I ask my colleagues to fully support this resolution, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on the immediate 
release of three Israeli soldiers and one Israeli citizen who have been 
held hostage by Hezbollah in Lebanon for the last eight months. I thank 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) for sponsoring this 
resolution and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for bringing it 
to the floor today.
  On October 7, 2000, Hezbollah terrorists crossed the Lebanese border 
into Israel, ambushed an IDF patrol unit, and abducted Adi Avitan, 
Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad. Only a week later, Elchanan 
Tannenbaum, an Israeli civilian, was abducted while on a business trip 
to Switzerland. Despite constant international pressure, Hezbollah has 
not yet shown any signs of releasing these four hostages. Hezbollah 
continues to deny any requests to meet with these four men.
  The kidnaping of these three soldiers and one citizen is yet another 
intolerable element of the ongoing struggle in the Middle East. Iran 
and Hezbollah's blatant violation of established international norms 
must be confronted. Syria, Lebanon, and Iran all voted in favor of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the United Nations General 
Assembly, yet Hezbollah has continued to deny the International 
Committee of the Red Cross access to these prisoners.
  Having worked against Hezbollah in Bosnia, I am aware of the danger 
they pose to Israelis and America abroad. We must take all necessary 
steps to ensure that, at the very least, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran call 
upon Hezbollah to allow representatives of the International Committee 
of the Red Cross to visit these Israeli hostages. For 261 days, these 
four men have been held captive. The families of these young men cannot 
continue to be tormented by the uncertainty of their loved ones' 
existence. Hezbollah has remained tight lipped on the condition of 
these men, and several Arabic language newspapers have reported that at 
least one of the soldiers had died in captivity.
  The United States must take a strong position against Hezbollah and 
call for these terrorists to allow the International Committee of the 
Red Cross to visit Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, Omar Souad, and 
Elchanan Tannenbaum. This resolution is a re-affirmation of our 
commitment to Israel and the values of democracy, justice, and human 
decency.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 99.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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