II
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives 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 miss-
ing in action since June 1982 when he was captured
HR 1175 RS
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-
operate with Israel in locating and working for the
return of Israeli soldiers missing in action.
HR 1175 RS
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
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-
HR 1175 RS
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 credible in-
formation 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 re-
port 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.
Calendar No. 187
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1175
AN ACT
To locate and secure the return of Zachary
Baumel, a United States citizen, and other
Israeli soldiers missing in action.
JUNE 30, 1999
Reported with an amendment