[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14963-14964]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SENSE OF HOUSE THAT U.N. SHOULD TRANSFER UNCENSORED VIDEOTAPE TO 
   ISRAELI GOVERNMENT REGARDING HEZBOLLAH ABDUCTION OF THREE ISRAELI 
                            DEFENSE SOLDIERS

  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 191) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the United Nations should immediately transfer to 
the Israeli Government an unedited and uncensored videotape that 
contains images which could provide material evidence for the 
investigation into the incident on October 7, 2000, when Hezbollah 
forces abducted 3 Israeli Defense Force soldiers, Adi Avitan, Binyamin 
Avraham, and Omar Souad.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 191

       Whereas on October 7, 2000, Hezbollah forces illegally 
     crossed the Israeli border with Lebanon and kidnapped 3 
     Israli Defense Force soldiers, Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, 
     and Omar Souad;
       Whereas 9 months after the kidnapping, Hezbollah released 
     no information as to the whereabouts and conditions of these 
     soldiers;
       Whereas the events leading up to, surrounding, and 
     immediately following the kidnapping remain unknown;
       Whereas after long denial the United Nations admitted to 
     possession of a videotape that contains images which could 
     provide material evidence for the investigation into the 
     incident on October 7, 2000;
       Whereas this videotape would help to assess the conditions 
     of the soldiers and assist in the investigation to determine 
     the identities of the kidnappers and their methods; and
       Whereas to date the United Nations is reluctant to transfer 
     an uncensored form of the videotape to Israeli Government 
     authorities investigating this incident: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that the United Nations should immediately 
     transfer an unedited and uncensored form of the videotape 
     that contains images which could provide material evidence 
     for the investigation into the incident on October 7, 2000, 
     when Hezbollah forces abducted 3 Israeli Defense Force 
     soldiers, Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad, as 
     well as any other material evidence the United Nations may 
     possess, to the Israeli Government to assist its 
     investigation of this incident.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Ballenger).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 191, sponsored by my 
friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).
  The United Nations has done important work in Lebanon over the years, 
keeping the peace as best it could in an area where stability has been 
threatened by the presence of various Lebanese and Palestinian factions 
and by Israeli responses to them.
  Recently, it seems to have failed in part of its mission. Lebanese-
based Hezbollah fighters were able to cross into Israeli territory and 
kidnap three Israeli soldiers. It turns out that a videotape that may 
well provide information to help resolve the kidnapping, although not 
the kidnapping itself, was made by the U.N. forces.
  After denying the existence of the tape for some time, it now appears 
that the tape does exist. The U.N. should do all it can to help resolve 
the disappearance of the men, including the provision of relevant 
evidence.
  The case has attracted widespread attention, not least in northern 
Illinois. I appreciate the diligent efforts of the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Kirk) and his constituents, as well as the efforts of his 
cosponsors, in keeping this humanitarian nightmare from fading from our 
memories pending its final, and I hope its peaceful and successful 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first, I want to congratulate my friend and colleague, 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) for bringing this important 
resolution to the body. I also want to thank my friend, the gentleman 
from North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger), and the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hyde) for his support.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution concerns a matter that unfortunately 
illustrates the singularly biased attitude and behavior that the United 
Nations and its constituent bodies and some of its personnel 
traditionally have shown towards our ally, the Democratic State of 
Israel.
  Mr. Speaker, on October 7 of last year, Hezbollah terrorists 
illegally crossed from Lebanon into Israel and kidnapped three Israeli 
soldiers. Nearly 10 months later, Hezbollah has neither released 
information about the soldiers' conditions and whereabouts, nor has it 
allowed any third parties, even the International Red Cross to meet 
with them. Shortly after the kidnapping, Israel sources learned that 
U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon had shot a videotape that likely reveals 
the terrorists' identities.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).
  Mr. CROWLEY. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 191. I want to thank 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) for authoring this important 
resolution before us today.
  In October of 2000, Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad were 
abducted while on routine patrol of Israel's northern border. At the 
present time these men are believed to be held by Hezbollah on Lebanese 
soil.
  I am extremely troubled by the fact that the United Nations has the 
ability to assist in discovering the whereabouts of these men and has 
failed to turn over what may be pertinent information to the Israeli 
Government. For an organization that is a champion for human rights 
around the world to obstruct the recovery of these men is 
inconceivable.
  I join my colleagues in calling on Secretary-General Kofi Annan to 
act expeditiously in seeing that any and all information leading to the 
rescue of these Israeli soldiers be handed over without further delay. 
Since these men were captured last year, I have been in constant 
contact with their families. I had the opportunity to meet their 
families in January of this year. The fact that the United Nations has 
evidence that could ultimately bring their sons, fathers and brothers 
back to them is the last shred of hope that any of these families have. 
I cannot stand by and allow that to be taken away from them as well.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I commend my friend from New York for his 
eloquent statement.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 191, sponsored 
by the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).
  295 days ago, three Israeli soldiers were kidnapped from Israeli 
territory near the Lebanese border.
  It developed months later that the United Nations had made a 
videotape that contains significant information that could lead to a 
solution to this case.
  The UN, however, first concealed the existence of the tape and 
subsequently has refused to release an uncensored version of it to 
Israel.
  This resolution simply calls on the UN to do what it should do--to 
help resolve a case that tugs at our heartstrings.

[[Page 14964]]

  I appreciate the tireless efforts of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Kirk) to keep this case alive. I hope, together with him and his 
constituents, and my own constituents, for a safe return for these men.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of a House 
Resolution 191. House Resolution 191 is of importance to my 
constituents and to the state of Israel and, as a cosponsor of this 
legislation, I urge its immediate passage.
  House Resolution 191 expresses the sense of the Congress that the 
United Nations should immediately transfer to the Israeli Government an 
unedited and uncensored videotape. That videotape contains images which 
could assist those investigating the October 7, 2000, kidnapping of 3 
Israeli Defense Force soldiers, Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar 
Souad.
  Nine months after the kidnapping, Hezbollah has released no 
information as to the whereabouts and conditions of these soldiers. 
While events leading up to the kidnapping remain unknown, the United 
Nations has admitted to possession of a videotape that contains images 
which could provide evidence for the investigation into the incident.
  It is hard to imagine the level of concern that must be felt by the 
family members of the three kidnapped soldiers. The fact that the 
United Nations may have information that could help resolve this 
situation is also troubling. The United Nations should not be making it 
more difficult for Israeli authorities and the family members of Adi 
Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad. Instead, it should be 
actively assisting Israeli authorities to secure information about 
these three individuals. I join my colleagues in strong support of this 
resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger) 
that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House 
Resolution 191.
  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. LANTOS. Mr. 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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