IIB

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1175

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNE 23, 1999

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

AN ACT

To locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, a United

States citizen, and other Israeli soldiers missing in action.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

4 The Congress finds that—
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1 (1) Zachary Baumel, a United States citizen

2 serving in the Israeli military forces, has been miss3 ing in action since June 1982 when he was captured

4 by forces affiliated with the Palestinian Liberation

5 Organization (PLO) following a tank battle with

6 Syrian forces at Sultan Ya’akub in Lebanon;

7 (2) Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, Israeli citi8 zens serving in the Israeli military forces, have been

9 missing in action since June 1982 when they were

10 also captured by these same forces in a tank battle

11 with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya’akub in Lebanon;

12 (3) these three soldiers were last known to be

13 in the hands of a Palestinian faction splintered from

14 the PLO and operating in Syrian-controlled terri15 tory, thus making this a matter within the responsi16 bility of the Government of Syria;

17 (4) diplomatic efforts to secure the release of

18 these individuals have been unsuccessful, although

19 PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat delivered one-half of

20 Zachary Baumel’s dog tag to Israeli Government au21 thorities; and

22 (5) in the Gaza-Jericho agreement between the

23 Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel

24 of May 4, 1994, Palestinian officials agreed to co-
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1 operate with Israel in locating and working for the

2 return of Israeli soldiers missing in action.

3 SEC. 2. ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO MISSING SOLDIERS.

4 (a) CONTINUING COMMUNICATION WITH CERTAIN

5 GOVERNMENTS.—The Secretary of State shall continue to

6 raise the matter of Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz, and

7 Zvi Feldman on an urgent basis with appropriate govern8 ment officials of Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Author9 ity, and with other governments in the region and else10 where that, in the determination of the Secretary, may be

11 helpful in locating and securing the return of these sol12 diers.

13 (b) PROVISION OF ECONOMIC AND OTHER ASSIST14 ANCE TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS.—In deciding whether

15 or not to provide United States economic and other forms

16 of assistance to Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority,

17 and other governments in the region, and in deciding

18 United States policy toward these governments and au19 thorities, the President should take into consideration the

20 willingness of these governments and authorities to assist

21 in locating and securing the return of the soldiers de22 scribed in subsection (a).

23 SEC. 3. REPORTS BY SECRETARY OF STATE.

24 (a) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after

25 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
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1 State shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Inter2 national Relations of the House of Representatives and

3 the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a writ4 ten report that describes the efforts of the Secretary pur5 suant to section 2(a) and United States policies affected

6 pursuant to section 2(b).

7 (b) SUBSEQUENT REPORTS.—Not later than 15 days

8 after receiving from any source any additional information

9 relating to the individuals described in section 2(a), the

10 Secretary of State shall prepare and submit to the com11 mittees described in subsection (a) a written report that

12 contains such additional information.

13 (c) FORM OF REPORTS.—A report submitted under

14 subsection (a) or (b) shall be made available to the public

15 and may include a classified annex.

Passed the House of Representatives June 22, 1999.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.