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| Senate |
| LEGISLATION TO DETERMINE THE FATE OF ZACHARY BAUMEL |
| Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I continue to voice my support for the Middle East peace process and my work on behalf of soldiers Missing in Action and Prisoners of War.During the last Congress, I introduced the Missing Service Personnel Act, provisions of which were signed into law to restore critical Department of Defense procedures for identifying and recover- ing POW/MIAs. The Act ensures that our government is and will do everything in its power to return those lost during times of conflict. Last month, I introduced S. 484, the 'Bring Them Home Alive Act of 1999' which creates a significant incentive for foreign nationals to return any possibly surviving American POW/MIAs. Mr. President, today I introduce legislation that continues my support for POW/MlAs and assists our Israeli allies in their efforts to learn the fate of several soldiers who were overtaken by Syrian forces in June 1982. 1 am pleased to be joined in this effort by Senators Torricelli, McCain, Kerry of Massachusetts, Smith of New Hampshire, Lugar, Coverdell, Lieberman, Lautenberg, Ashcroft, Kennedy, Schumer, Allard, and Santorum. This bill is a companion to legislation which Congressmen Lantos, Gilman, and 65 other members introduced in the House. Reports indicate that three soldiers of an Israeli tank crew were captured by Syrian forces at the 1982 battle of Sultan Yaqub in northern Lebanon.These men were later paraded through the streets of the Syrian capital of Damascus.They were never seen nor heard from again.Zachary Baumel,an American citizen and sergeant in the Israeli Defense Forces was one of those men. For over sixteen years, the Syrian government and the leadership of the PLO have failed to cooperate in the effort to determine their fate.In 1993, Yasser Arafat produced the most tangible link to the missing men, returning half of Baumel's identification dog tag.For the last five years, however, no additional information has been forthcoming. The bill I introduce today requires the State Department to raise this issue with the Syrian government and leaders of the Palestinian Authority and provide the Congress with a report on the information that has been uncovered. It also requires that Palestinian and Syrian cooperation in this effort be a factor in the consideration for future U.S. assistance. This legislation is a targeted approach to address the unique and compelling merits of this case in which an American-born Israeli soldier and his comrades remain unaccounted for in a time of war. As Americans know all too well, the bitter legacy of missing soldiers and POWs can haunt a nation and interfere with efforts to build better relations between former enemies. Clearly, resolving the issue of the MlAs can only strengthen American efforts to make Middle East peace into a reality. This is the first week of the Jewish month of Nissan-the month of the Jewish holiday of Passover-the ancient festival that celebrates freedom. I can think of no time that is more appropriate to propose this legislation, and to hopefully begin a process that will help to resolve the fate of Zachary Baumel and his comrades after so many years. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in the Record and I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill. There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: |
S. 676 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECT1ON 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1)Zachary Baumel, a citizen of the United States serving in the Israeli military forces, has been missing in action since June 1982 when he was captured by forces affiliated with the Palestin- ian 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 their release have been unsuccessful, although PLO Chairman Yasir Arafat delivered one-half of Zachary Baumel's dog tag to Israeli government authorities. (5)In the Gaza-Jericho agreement between the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel of May 4, 1994, Palestin- ian officials agreed to cooperate with Israel in locating and working for the return of Israeli soldiers missing in action. SEC. 2. ACTIONS BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (a)Responsibility of Secretary of State: The Secretary of State shall 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 other governments else- where which in the Secretary's view may be helpful in locating and securing the return of these soldiers. (b)Cooperation as a Factor in Determinations of Assistance: Decisions with regard to United States economic and other forms of assistance to Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, and other governments in the region, and United States policy to- wards these governments and authorities, should, take into con- sideration the willingness of these governments and authorities to assist in locating and securing the return of these soldiers. SEC. 3. REPORTS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. (a)Initial Report: Ninety days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report in writing to Congress detailing the Secretary's consultations with govern- ments pursuant to section 2(a) and the changes in United States policies made pursuant to section 2(b). The report shall be a public document and may include a classified annex. (b)Subsequent Reports: After the initial report to Congress, the Secretary of State shall submit a report in writing to Congress within 15 days whenever any additional information from any source relating to these individuals arises. The report shall be a public document and may include a classified annex. (c)Congressional Recipients of Reports: The reports to Congress identified in subsections (a) and (b) shall be made to the Committee on International Relations of the House of Represen- tatives and to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate. |
