H. R. 1175

One Hundred Sixth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine

An Act

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

other Israeli soldiers missing in action.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

The Congress finds that—

(1) Zachary Baumel, a United States citizen serving in

the Israeli military forces, has been missing in action since

June 1982 when he was captured by forces affiliated with

the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) following a tank

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

(2) Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, Israeli citizens serving

in the Israeli military forces, have been missing in action since

June 1982 when they were also captured by these same forces

in a tank battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya’akub in Lebanon;

(3) these three soldiers were last known to be in the hands

of a Palestinian faction splintered from the PLO and operating

in Syrian-controlled territory, thus making this a matter within

the responsibility of the Government of Syria;

(4) diplomatic efforts to secure the release of these individuals have been unsuccessful, although PLO Chairman Yasser

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

Government authorities; and

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

Authority and the Government of Israel of May 4, 1994, Palestinian officials agreed to cooperate with Israel in locating and

working for the return of Israeli soldiers missing in action.

SEC. 2. ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO MISSING SOLDIERS.

(a) CONTINUING COMMUNICATION WITH CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS.—The Secretary of State shall continue to raise the matter

of Zachary Baumel, Yehuda Katz, and Zvi Feldman on an urgent

basis with appropriate government officials of Syria, Lebanon, the

Palestinian Authority, and with other governments in the region

and elsewhere that, in the determination of the Secretary, may

be helpful in locating and securing the return of these soldiers.

(b) PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS.—

In deciding whether or not to provide United States assistance

to any government or authority which the Secretary of State

believes has information concerning the whereabouts of the soldiers

described in subsection (a), and in formulating United States policy

towards such government or authority, the President should take
H. R. 1175—2

into consideration the willingness of the government or authority

to assist in locating and securing the return of such soldiers.

SEC. 3. REPORTS BY SECRETARY OF STATE.

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

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall prepare

and submit to the Committee on International Relations of the

House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations

of the Senate a written report that describes the efforts of the

Secretary pursuant to section 2(a) and United States policies

affected pursuant to section 2(b).

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

receiving from any source any additional credible information

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

of State shall prepare and submit to the committees described

in subsection (a) a written report that contains such additional

information.

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

(a) or (b) shall be made available to the public and may include

a classified annex.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.