THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR MISSING ISRAELI SOLDIERS
"I want to applaud the efforts of the International Coalition for
Missing Israeli Soldiers for spearheading the grassroots effort to
bring this bill to passage." (Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), original sponsor of H.R. 1175)

Washington -- On November 8, 1999, U.S. President Clinton signed H.R. 1175 --
"A Bill to Locate and Secure the Release of Zachary Baumel, an American
Citizen and Other Israelis Missing in Action" -- into law. The presidential
signing followed two years of lobbying by representatives of the International
Coalition for Missing Israeli Soldiers. The precedent setting legislation has
been hailed by major American Jewish organizations and leading political
figures in the United States. The bill stipulates that the State Department raise
the issue on "an urgent basis" with the relevant Arab governments in the region,
and links U.S. economic assistance to those governments to their cooperation in
helping to locate the missing soldiers.

· President Bill Clinton: "...I have signed the Act [H.R. 1175] into law. I believe
  it will send a powerful message of solidarity with the families of the missing
  soldiers and of our determination to do everything possible to resolve their cases.
  We will pursue every concrete lead to ascertain their fate; we will continue to
  consult closely with the families and the government of Israel; and we will raise
  the issue with other governments and with the Palestinian Authority...." (From a
  letter to American Jewish leaders, November 14, 1999)



· Hillary Rodham Clinton: "I was privileged to announce during the course of
  my lecture [the Rabin lecture, in Israel] that the President had signed the MIA
  legislation that will make Israeli MIAs a signal part of American foreign policy,
  and I think now is the time to press as hard as we possibly can to get answers and
  force accountability, and I agree with that and will do whatever I can." (New York
  December 14, 1999)


Photo Gallery of the American Campaign

The following are links to other documentation related to the passing of this bill and other Legislative activity on behalf of Israeli MIAs:

House Concurrent Resolution 417:
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the capture of Zachary Baumel,
and calling on the Governments of Syria and Lebanon to provide an accounting for,
and to secure the release of, Zachary Baumel and all other Israeli hostages
held under Lebanese or Syrian control.
June 12, 2002
text view or pdf view

On the 20th Anniversary of the Capture of Zachary Baumel
Statement by Rep. Anthony Weiner
Letter to Sec. of State Powell from Reps. Anthony Weiner and Tom Lantos
June 11, 2002

Statement by Rep. Anthony Weiner on the 25th Birthday of Guy Hever.
June 4, 2002

Transcript of Knesset Session to Mark the 500th Day in Captivity of Elchanan Tannenbaum
and Discuss of the Fate of Other MIAs.
March 13, 2002 (Hebrew)

Rep. Tom Lantos: 500 Days in Captivity - And Still Counting
February 28, 2002.

Press Release from Rep. Mark Kirk: House Passes Resolution Calling for
Release of Evidence on Hezbollah Kidnapping
July 31, 2001.

H. Res. 191: U.N. Should Transfer Uncensored Videotape to Israeli Government
Regarding Hezbollah Abduction of Three Israeli Defense Soldiers
July 31, 2001.

Press Release from Rep. Joseph Crowley Res. Demanding Access to Israeli Hostages
June 20, 2001.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 35: Expressing the Sense of Congress that
Lebanon, Syria, and Iran Should Allow Representatives of the
International Commitee of the Red Cross to Visit the Four Israelis,
Adi Avitan, Binyamin Avraham, Omar Souad, and Elchanan Tannebaum,
Presenly Held by Hezbollah Forces in Lebanaon
May 2, 2001

Press Release from Rep. Joseph Crowley and Sen. Charles Schumer
April 27, 2001.

Sen. Peter Fitzgerald Urges President Bush to Seek Return of Kidnapped Israelis
March 15, 2001. (pdf file)

Senate Bill (S.676) with introduction by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
March 22, 1999.

House of Representatives Bill (H.R.1175) with introduction by
Congressman Tom Lantos. March 18, 1999.

Copy of the Act - H.R. 1175

Tribute to ICMIS from Rep. Tom Lantos. May 24, 2000.

Letter of support from Senator John McCain. May 19, 2000.

Letter of support from Former President Clinton. Nov. 14, 1999.

Letter of support from Member of Congress, Robert Wexler. June 10, 1999.

Press release from Senator Russ Feingold. June 8, 1999.

Press release from Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. March 19, 1999.

Statement by Senator Kennedy on the Zachary Baumel Case. March 18, 1999.

Quotes from Cosponsors of H.R. 1175, taken from the Congressional Record.

Congressional Reception to honor Mr. and Mrs. Baumel. Feb. 10, 1999.

Letter from U.S. Embassy to Ministry of Defence, Tel Aviv. Dec. 5, 1991.

Letter from U.S. Embassy to Mr. and Mrs. Baumel. June 16, 1983.

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