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June, 2003
Special Action Alert
Commemorating Twenty-One Years Of Capture
Where Are Our Israeli Soldiers?
On June 11, 1982, a battle raged in the Bekaa Valley in northern
Lebanon between an Israeli tank unit and a Syrian armored unit.
Resulting from this battle, three (3) Israeli soldiers -- First
Sergeant Tzvi Feldman, Sergeant Zachary Baumel, and Corporal
Yehuda Katz -- were reported missing-in-action and are still
unaccounted for.
Ever since these three soldiers were taken, their families have
spared no effort and are doing their utmost to obtain any
information possible as to the fate of these missing soldiers.
They have contacted governments, human rights organizations, the
ICRC, the UN, and other international bodies. No information has
been forthcoming.
Because most of the areas in which these soldiers disappeared were
continually controlled by Syria, Syria bears responsibility for
their fate according to international law.
At Israel’s request, the Syrian authorities have been approached
time and time again for information about the fate of these
missing soldiers. World leaders and representatives of
international bodies have called on Syria’s President Assad
concerning this matter. To date, President Assad has not revealed
any information about their conditions or whereabouts. All efforts
to learn the fate of these young soldiers from other groups in the
area, including the PLO, have not succeeded.
In the fall of 1991, the Western Hostages in Lebanon were freed,
yet these three soldiers are still being held hostage. Twenty-one
pain-filled years have passed since these soldiers were taken.
Twenty-one long years have passed since their families have seen
them or heard anything about them.
In 1999, S.676 in the Senate, and H.R.1175 in the House, were
passed to help assure that this issue is uppermost on the agenda.
These laws mandate that the United States State Department must
raise the plight of these missing soldiers in all relevant Middle
East discussions and report the findings to Congress. They must be
implemented and enforced.
Twenty-one years after the capture of these three soldiers, we ask
you to write to your legislators in Washington urging them to
implement S.676 and H.R.1175 of 1999. Every avenue must be pursued
on behalf of Zachary Baumel, Tzvi Feldman, and Yehuda Katz. We
also call upon the President and the Secretary of State to
intensify all efforts to secure the freedom of Israel’s MIAs. For
the sake of decency and respect for human life, for the sake of
humanity and compassion, after 21 years of anguish, let these
young men come home at last.
President Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500 |
Sec. of State Powell
Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520 |
Honorable (Senator)
U. S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 |
Honorable (Representative)
U. S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515 |
Sample Letter for Your Use
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