IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 116

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 24, 2000

Referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Commending Israel’s redeployment from southern Lebanon.

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 polit-
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ical 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—

3 (1) commends Israel for its decision to with4 draw its forces from southern Lebanon and for tak5 ing risks for peace in the Middle East;

6 (2) calls upon the United Nations Security

7 Council—

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

9 obligations under Security Council Resolution

10 425 and to provide the necessary resources for

11 the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

12 (UNIFIL) to implement its mandate under that

13 resolution; and

14 (B) to insist upon the withdrawal of all

15 foreign forces from Lebanese territory so that

16 Lebanon may exercise sovereignty throughout

17 its territory;

18 (3) urges UNIFIL, in cooperation with the

19 Lebanese Armed Forces, to gain full control over

20 southern Lebanon, including taking actions to en21 sure the disarmament of Hezbollah and all other
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1 such groups, in order to eliminate all terrorist activ2 ity originating from that area;

3 (4) appeals to the Government of Lebanon to

4 grant clemency and assure the safety and rehabilita5 tion into Lebanese society of all members of the

6 South Lebanon Army and their families;

7 (5) calls upon the international community to

8 ensure that southern Lebanon does not once again

9 become a staging ground for attacks against Israel

10 and to cooperate in bringing about the reconstruc11 tion and reintegration of southern Lebanon;

12 (6) recognizes Israel’s right, enshrined in Chap13 ter 7, Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, to

14 defend itself and its people from attack and re15 asserts United States support for maintaining

16 Israel’s qualitative military edge in order to ensure

17 Israel’s long-term security; and

18 (7) urges all parties to reenter the peace proc19 ess with the Government of Israel in order to bring

20 peace and stability to all the Middle East.

Passed the Senate May 23, 2000.

Attest: GARY SISCO,

Secretary.