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April 23, 2002
To: Officers, Rabbis, Key Contacts
From: Richard B. Stone, Chairman
Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International and Communal Affairs
Re: The Syrian Accountability Act, S. 2215, H.R. 4483
Despite the fact that Israel withdrew from Lebanon in accordance with UN resolution 425, Hezbollah, with a green light from Syria, has been attacking Israel's northern border. Since Syria, one of the world's leading sponsors of international terrorism, continues the occupation of Lebanon and the development of weapons of mass destruction and is a country listed on the State Department list of terrorist states, it should be treated no differently than other countries on that list. Just as Iran, another state on the terrorist list, has been punished with US sanctions, Syria should also not be allowed to continue its terrorism activity with impunity.
Legislation has been introduced in the House and in the Senate called the Syrian Accountability Act, introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) as S. 2215 and in the House by Representatives Dick Armey (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY), H.R. 4483. This legislation would impose sanctions on Syria until the President certifies that Syria has ceased its support for terrorist groups, has withdrawn its forces from Lebanon, halted its development of missiles and biological and chemical weapons, and is in compliance with the UN resolutions concerning Iraq. The proposed legislation would have the following sanctions imposed:
1) A ban on military and dual-use technology exports to Syria;
2) A ban on any financial assistance to U.S. businesses for their investments or other activities in Syria.
3) Also, the President must impose two additional sanctions from a menu of six, including a ban on U.S. exports to Syria, a ban on U.S. business investment in Syria, downgrading the U.S. diplomatic representation to Syria (at present, there is a U.S. ambassador), and travel restrictions on Syrian diplomats in the U.S., and others.
Immediate Action Necessary
Urge your Senators and Representatives to support the Syrian Accountability Act, S. 2215 in the Senate, and H.R. 4483 in the House. Call Senators at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the office of your Senators. Call Representatives at (202) 225-3121 and ask for the office of your Representative.
The following are talking points which you can use in your correspondence or telephone calls to your Senators and Representatives as you urge them to sponsor the Syrian Accountability Act:
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Syria continues to be a major sponsor of international terrorist groups. Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and at least eight more terrorist groups are headquartered in Damascus. These groups maintain offices, training camps, and other facilities on Syrian territory, operate in areas of Lebanon occupied by Syria and receive supplies from Iran through Syria. Hezbollah's recent attacks on Israel, launched with the acquiescence of the Syrian government, risk leading to a wider regional war.
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Syria continues to occupy Lebanon despite UN Security Council resolutions and despite the withdrawal of Israel from all Lebanese territory. Over 20,000 Syrian troops occupy sovereign Lebanese territory, preventing Lebanese independence and preventing Lebanon from fulfilling its obligation under Security Council resolution 425 to deploy its troops to southern Lebanon. As a result, southern Lebanon is under the control of the terrorist group Hezbollah, which has positioned 8,000 Katuysha rockets opposite Israel's northern border and has allowed Iranian Revolutionary Guards to operate freely in the area.
- Syria continues its own program to develop biological and chemical weapons. Syria's ability to strike most of Israel with its short and medium-range ballistic missiles makes Israeli population centers vulnerable to Syrian attack. Given Syria's support for terrorism and its hatred towards Israel, Syria's development of chemical and biological weapons are a major U.S. national security concern.
- Syria serves as a major conduit for illegal Iraqi oil exports in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions. Syria, which now sits on the UN Security Council, is defying that very body through its illegal Iraqi oil exports, helping to finance Saddam Hussein, and earning for itself about $1 billion a year.
- Syria is subject to fewer U.S. sanctions than any other country listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. Unlike other nations on that list, there is no ban on trade with, or investment in, Syria. There are no travel restrictions on Syrian diplomats as there are for diplomats from other terrorist list states. The U.S. has ambassador-level relations with Syria, but not with any other terrorist state.
Urgent Action Necessary
Write or call your Senators and Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor and help pass S. 2215 in the Senate and H.R. 4484 in the House, the Syrian Accountability Act. This is an important part of the fight against the global scourge of terrorism and not only is it in Israel's interests, but it is in support of the United States-led war against terrorism. Call Senators at (202) 224-3121 and Representatives at (202) 225-3121. Or write to them at:
Representative
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U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515 |
Senator
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United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 |
For more information, please call us at (212) 613-8123.
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