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(1) Zachary Baumel, a United States citizen
serving in the Israeli military forces, has been miss-
ing 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 citi-
zens 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 terri-
tory, thus making this a matter within the responsi-
bility 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 au-
thorities; and
(5) in the Gaza-Jericho agreement between the
Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel
of May 4, 1994, Palestinian officials agreed to co-
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operate 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 govern-
ment officials of Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Author-
ity, and with other governments in the region and else-
where that, in the determination of the Secretary, may be
helpful in locating and securing the return of these sol-
diers.
(b) PROVISION OF ECONOMIC AND OTHER ASSIST-
ANCE TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENTS.—In deciding whether
or not to provide United States economic and other forms
of assistance to Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority,
and other governments in the region, and in deciding
United States policy toward these governments and au-
thorities, the President should take into consideration the
willingness of these governments and authorities to assist
in locating and securing the return of the soldiers de-
scribed in subsection (a).
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
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State shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Inter-
national Relations of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a writ-
ten report that describes the efforts of the Secretary pur-
suant 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 information
relating to the individuals described in section 2(a), the
Secretary of State shall prepare and submit to the com-
mittees 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.
Passed the House of Representatives June 22, 1999.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.