IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 417

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the capture of Zachary Baumel,

a United States citizen serving in the Israeli Defense Forces, and calling

on the Governments of Syria and Lebanon to provide an accounting

for, and to secure the release of, Zachary Baumel and all other Israeli

hostages held under Lebanese or Syrian control.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 12, 2002

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. GILMAN, Mr.

WEINER, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. BERMAN, and Mrs. MALONEY

of New York) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the capture of

Zachary Baumel, a United States citizen serving in the

Israeli Defense Forces, and calling on the Governments

of Syria and Lebanon to provide an accounting for, and

to secure the release of, Zachary Baumel and all other

Israeli hostages held under Lebanese or Syrian control.

Whereas Zachary Baumel, a United States citizen serving in

the Israeli military forces, has been missing in action

since June 11, 1982, when he and fellow soldiers Yehuda

Katz and Tzvi Feldman were captured by forces affiliated

with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) fol-
2

•HCON 417 IH

lowing a tank battle with Syrian forces at Sultan

Ya’akub in Lebanon;

Whereas these three soldiers were last known to be in the

hands of a Palestinian faction operating in Syrian-occupied territory in Lebanon, thus making this a matter

within the responsibility of the Government of Syria;

Whereas in December 1993 PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat

delivered one-half of Zachary Baumel’s dog tag to Israeli

Government authorities;

Whereas Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad was captured

on October 16, 1986, in Lebanon by Amal, a Lebanese

Shiite organization, after ejecting from his damaged aircraft;

Whereas Israel received pictures and letters from Ron Arad

before he disappeared in 1988 after falling into the hands

of Iranian backed forces in Lebanon;

Whereas Guy Hever, an Israeli soldier, reportedly last seen

near the Syria-Israel border, disappeared after leaving his

base on August 17, 1997;

Whereas on October 7, 2000, Hizballah units, in clear violation of international law, crossed the Lebanese border

into Israel and kidnaped three Israeli soldiers, Adi

Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad;

Whereas on October 15, 2000, Hizballah announced that

Israeli civilian Elchanan Tannenbaum, missing after

traveling to Belgium, was being held by Hizballah;

Whereas Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, Omar Souad, and

Elchanan Tannenbaum are being held by Hizballah in

Lebanon;
3

•HCON 417 IH

Whereas the 2001 Department of State ‘‘Patterns of Global

Terrorism’’ Report states that Syria provides Hizballah

refuge, basing privileges, substantial amounts of financial

assistance, training, weapons, explosives, and political,

diplomatic, and logistical support;

Whereas the 2001 State Department terrorism report also

states that the Lebanese Government condones

Hizballah’s actions against Israel and has recognized

Hizballah as a legal operation and allows Hizballah to

maintain offices in Beirut;

Whereas Syria, a non-permanent United Nations Security

Council member, has recently assumed the rotating Presidency of the Security Council;

Whereas the taking of hostages or participating as an accomplice in the taking of hostages is considered an act of terror under the International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages;

Whereas Syria, Lebanon, and 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 and

other international bodies have had no access to any of

the aforementioned individuals;

Whereas the Governments of Syria, Lebanon, and Iran have

refused to cooperate with previous United States efforts

to secure the release of the aforementioned individuals;

Whereas section 2 of Public Law 106–89 directs the Secretary of State to raise the issue of missing Israeli soldiers Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz, and Tzvi Feldman

with officials of Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority and other governments in the Middle East and speci-
4

•HCON 417 IH

fies that, in deciding whether or not to provide United

States assistance to any government or authority which

may have information concerning the whereabouts of

these soldiers, the President should take into consideration the willingness of these governments and authorities to assist in locating and securing the return of these

soldiers;

Whereas section 3 of Public Law 106–89 directs the Department of State to report to Congress on the efforts described in the preceding clause;

Whereas diplomatic efforts to secure the release of these individuals have been unsuccessful; and

Whereas Zachary Baumel is a United States citizen and seizure of a United States citizen as a hostage anywhere in

the world is a crime under section 1203 of title 18,

United States Code: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress—

3 (1) calls on the Governments of Syria and Leb4 anon to immediately and unconditionally take all

5 necessary measures to provide the fullest possible ac6 counting for, and to secure the release of, United

7 States citizen Zachary Baumel and all other Israeli

8 hostages held under Lebanese or Syrian control;

9 (2) encourages the Secretary of State to vigor10 ously carry out the provisions of Public Law 106–

11 89;
5

•HCON 417 IH

1 (3) expresses solidarity with the Government of

2 Israel and fully supports its efforts to return Israeli

3 hostages to their families; and

4 (4) expresses solidarity with the families of

5 Israel’s hostages and fully supports their heroic ef6 forts to bring their loved ones home.

Æ