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Calendar No. 187

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1175

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

and other Israeli soldiers missing in action.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JUNE 23, 1999

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

JUNE 30, 1999

Reported by Mr. HELMS, with an amendment

[Insert the part printed in italic]

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—

5 (1) Zachary Baumel, a United States citizen

6 serving in the Israeli military forces, has been miss7 ing in action since June 1982 when he was captured
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HR 1175 RS

1 by forces affiliated with the Palestinian Liberation

2 Organization (PLO) following a tank battle with

3 Syrian forces at Sultan Ya’akub in Lebanon;

4 (2) Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, Israeli citi5 zens serving in the Israeli military forces, have been

6 missing in action since June 1982 when they were

7 also captured by these same forces in a tank battle

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

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

10 in the hands of a Palestinian faction splintered from

11 the PLO and operating in Syrian-controlled terri12 tory, thus making this a matter within the responsi13 bility of the Government of Syria;

14 (4) diplomatic efforts to secure the release of

15 these individuals have been unsuccessful, although

16 PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat delivered one-half of

17 Zachary Baumel’s dog tag to Israeli Government au18 thorities; and

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

20 Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel

21 of May 4, 1994, Palestinian officials agreed to co22 operate with Israel in locating and working for the

23 return of Israeli soldiers missing in action.
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1 SEC. 2. ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO MISSING SOLDIERS.

2 (a) CONTINUING COMMUNICATION WITH CERTAIN

3 GOVERNMENTS.—The Secretary of State shall continue to

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

5 Zvi Feldman on an urgent basis with appropriate govern6 ment officials of Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Author7 ity, and with other governments in the region and else8 where that, in the determination of the Secretary, may be

9 helpful in locating and securing the return of these sol10 diers.

11 (b) PROVISION OF ECONOMIC AND OTHER ASSIST12 ANCE TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS.—In deciding whether

13 or not to provide United States economic and other forms

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

15 and other governments in the region, and in deciding

16 United States policy toward these governments and au17 thorities, the President should take into consideration the

18 willingness of these governments and authorities to assist

19 in locating and securing the return of the soldiers de20 scribed in subsection (a).

21 SEC. 3. REPORTS BY SECRETARY OF STATE.

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

23 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of

24 State shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Inter25 national Relations of the House of Representatives and

26 the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a writ-
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1 ten report that describes the efforts of the Secretary pur2 suant to section 2(a) and United States policies affected

3 pursuant to section 2(b).

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

5 after receiving from any source any additional credible in6 formation relating to the individuals described in section

7 2(a), the Secretary of State shall prepare and submit to

8 the committees described in subsection (a) a written re9 port that contains such additional information.

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

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

12 and may include a classified annex.

Passed the House of Representatives June 22, 1999.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.

Calendar No. 187

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1175

AN ACT

To locate and secure the return of Zachary

Israeli soldiers missing in action.Baumel, a United States citizen, and other

JUNE 30, 1999

Reported with an amendment