H. Res. 921

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

July 20, 2006.

Whereas on September 12, 2005, Israel completed its unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, demonstrating its willingness 

to make sacrifices for the sake of peace; 

Whereas more than 1,000 rockets have been launched from 

Gaza into Israel since Israel’s disengagement; 

Whereas in a completely unprovoked attack that occurred in 

undisputed Israeli territory on June 25, 2006, Israeli Defense Forces Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and is 

being held hostage in Gaza by a Palestinian terrorist 

group which includes members of Hamas; 

Whereas Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal, in Damascus, Syria, has acknowledged the role of Hamas in holding Corporal Shalit hostage; 

Whereas in a completely unprovoked attack that occurred in 

undisputed Israeli territory on July 12, 2006, operatives 

of the terrorist group Hezbollah operating out of southern Lebanon killed three Israeli soldiers and took two 

others hostage; 

Whereas Israel fully complied with United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 425 (1978) by completely withdrawing its forces from Lebanon, as certified by the 

United Nations Security Council and affirmed by United 
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Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on June 16, 

2000, when he said, ‘‘Israel has withdrawn from [Lebanon] in full compliance with Security Council Resolution 

425.’’; 

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 

(2004) calls for the complete withdrawal of all foreign 

forces from Lebanon and the dismantlement of all independent militias in Lebanon; 

Whereas despite the adoption of United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 1559, the Government of Lebanon 

has failed to disband and disarm Hezbollah, allowing 

Hezbollah instead to amass 13,000 rockets, including 

rockets that are more destructive, longer-range and more 

accurate than rockets previously used by Hezbollah, and 

has integrated Hezbollah into the Lebanese Government; 

Whereas the Government of Israel has previously shown great 

restraint despite the fact that Hezbollah has launched at 

least four separate attacks into Israel using rockets and 

ground forces over the past year; 

Whereas the failure of the Government of Lebanon to implement all aspects of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 and to extend its authority throughout its 

territory has enabled Hezbollah to launch armed attacks 

against Israel and recently to kidnap Israeli soldiers; 

Whereas Hezbollah’s strength derives significantly from the 

direct financial, military, and political support it receives 

from Syria and Iran, and Hezbollah also receives important support from sources within Lebanon; 

Whereas Iranian Revolutionary Guards continue to operate in 

southern Lebanon, providing support to Hezbollah and 

reportedly controlling its operational activities; 
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Whereas the Government of the United States has enacted 

several laws, including the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 

108–175) and the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 

(Public Law 104–172), which call for the imposition of 

sanctions on Syria and Iran for, among other things, 

their support for terrorism and terrorist organizations; 

Whereas the House of Representatives has repeatedly called 

for full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559; 

Whereas section 1224 of the Foreign Relations Authorization 

Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107–228) withholds 

certain assistance to Lebanon contingent on the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces to the internationally 

recognized border between Lebanon and Israel and its effective assertion of authority in the border area in order, 

among other reasons, to prevent cross-border infiltration 

by terrorists, precisely the criminal activity that has provoked the current crisis; 

Whereas President George W. Bush stated on July 12, 2006, 

‘‘Hezbollah’s terrorist operations threaten Lebanon’s security and are an affront to the sovereignty of the Lebanese Government. Hezbollah’s actions are not in the interest of the Lebanese people, whose welfare should not 

be held hostage to the interests of the Syrian and Iranian 

regimes.’’, and has repeatedly affirmed that Syria and 

Iran must be held to account for their shared responsibility in the recent attacks; 

Whereas the United States recognizes that some members of 

the democratically-elected Lebanese parliament are working to build an autonomous and sovereign Lebanon and 

supports their efforts; and 
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Whereas both Hezbollah and Hamas refuse to recognize 

Israel’s right to exist and call for the destruction of 

Israel: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) reaffirms its steadfast support for the State of 

Israel; 

(2) condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for engaging in 

unprovoked and reprehensible armed attacks against 

Israel on undisputed Israeli territory, for taking hostages, for killing Israeli soldiers, and for continuing to 

indiscriminately target Israeli civilian populations with 

their rockets and missiles; 

(3) further condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for 

cynically exploiting civilian populations as shields, locating their equipment and bases of operation, including 

their rockets and other armaments, amidst civilian populations, including in homes and mosques; 

(4) recognizes Israel’s longstanding commitment to 

minimizing civilian loss and welcomes Israel’s continued 

efforts to prevent civilian casualties; 

(5) demands the Governments of Iran and Syria to 

direct Hamas and Hezbollah to immediately and unconditionally release Israeli soldiers which they hold captive; 

(6) affirms that all governments that have provided 

continued support to Hamas or Hezbollah share responsibility for the hostage-taking and attacks against Israel 
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and, as such, should be held accountable for their actions; 

(7) condemns the Governments of Iran and Syria 

for their continued support for Hezbollah and Hamas in 

their armed attacks against Israelis and their other terrorist activities; 

(8) supports Israel’s right to take appropriate action to defend itself, including to conduct operations 

both in Israel and in the territory of nations which pose 

a threat to it, which is in accordance with international 

law, including Article 51 of the United Nations Charter; 

(9) commends the President of the United States 

for fully supporting Israel as it responds to these armed 

attacks by terrorist organizations and their state sponsors; 

(10) urges the President of the United States to 

bring the full force of political, diplomatic, and economic 

sanctions available to the Government of the United 

States against the Governments of Syria and Iran; 

(11) demands the Government of Lebanon to do everything in its power to find and free the kidnapped 

Israeli soldiers being held in the territory of Lebanon; 

(12) calls on the United Nations Security Council 

to condemn these unprovoked acts and to take action to 

ensure full and immediate implementation of United Na-
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tions Security Council 1559 (2004), which requires 

Hezbollah to be dismantled and the departure of all Syrian personnel and Iranian Revolutionary Guards from 

Lebanon; 

(13) expresses its condolences to all families of innocent victims of recent violence; and 

(14) declares its continued commitment to working 

with Israel and other United States allies in combating 

terrorism worldwide. 

Attest:

Clerk.