106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 116

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

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

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives

2 concurring), That Congress—
2

SCON 116 ES

1 (1) commends Israel for its decision to with2 draw its forces from southern Lebanon and for tak3 ing risks for peace in the Middle East;

4 (2) calls upon the United Nations Security

5 Council—

6 (A) to recognize Israel’s fulfillment of its

7 obligations under Security Council Resolution

8 425 and to provide the necessary resources for

9 the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

10 (UNIFIL) to implement its mandate under that

11 resolution; and

12 (B) to insist upon the withdrawal of all

13 foreign forces from Lebanese territory so that

14 Lebanon may exercise sovereignty throughout

15 its territory;

16 (3) urges UNIFIL, in cooperation with the

17 Lebanese Armed Forces, to gain full control over

18 southern Lebanon, including taking actions to en19 sure the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other

20 such groups, in order to eliminate all terrorist activ21 ity originating from that area;

22 (4) appeals to the Government of Lebanon to

23 grant clemency and assure the safety and rehabilita24 tion into Lebanese society of all members of the

25 South Lebanon Army and their families;
3

SCON 116 ES

1 (5) calls upon the international community to

2 ensure that southern Lebanon does not once again

3 become a staging ground for attacks against Israel

4 and to cooperate in bringing about the reconstruc5 tion and reintegration of southern Lebanon;

6 (6) recognizes Israel’s right, enshrined in Chap7 ter 7, Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, to

8 defend itself and its people from attack and re9 asserts United States support for maintaining

10 Israel’s qualitative military edge in order to ensure

11 Israel’s long-term security; and

12 (7) urges all parties to reenter the peace proc13 ess with the Government of Israel in order to bring

14 peace and stability to all the Middle East.

Passed the Senate May 23, 2000.

Attest:

Secretary.

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 116

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Commending Israel’s redeployment from southern

Lebanon.