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June, 2004
Special Action
Alert
Commemorating Twenty-Two 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. After 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 captured, 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. These efforts have
yet to bear fruit.
According to international law, Syria bears responsibility for
their fate, since Syria has had continual control of the areas in
which these soldiers disappeared.
At Israel’s request, 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. Efforts to learn the fate
of these missing 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-two
pain-filled years have passed since these soldiers were taken.
Twenty-two 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 remains uppermost on the
Middle East agenda. These laws mandate that the 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-two 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 22 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
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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 |
INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS •
ORTHODOX UNION • 11 BROADWAY • NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004 •
212-613-8124
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