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April,
2005
To: Officers, Rabbis, Key Contacts
From: IPA
RE: OU Washington Leadership Mission, April 2005 Policy Paper
Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act (LASLA), H.R.1141
As the United States seeks to bring sovereignty to Lebanon and
works to bring a stable government in Iraq, Iran and Syria are
joining forces to undermine these goals. Last month, the two
nations announced a “common front” against the United States and
invited other Muslim nations to join their alliance. Both Iran and
Syria have long sponsored international terrorism and taken action
to stabilize the Middle East.
President Bush and military officials have accused both Syria and
Iran of allowing terrorists to freely cross over their borders
with Iraq where they attack American troops, members of the
interim government, and Iraqi citizens. Syria is harboring Iraqis
linked to former dictator Saddam Hussein who are directing and
funding attacks on U. S. troops. The Syrian banking system has
long been a way station for Iran to transfer funds to Hezbollah,
and Syria has also served as an intermediary for Iranian shipments
of weapons and rockets to the group. In addition to Hezbollah and
Islamic Jihad, many other terrorist groups are headquartered in
Damascus. Syria has maintained tens of thousands of troops in
Lebanon since the 1970’s, as well as thousands of members of its
intelligence and security services. Syria has refused to comply
with international demands for an immediate and total withdrawal
of the Syrian army and intelligence personnel from Lebanon,
offering only to redeploy a limited number of soldiers within
Lebanon.
Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Elliot Engel (D-NY)
have introduced the Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act (LASLA),
H.R.1141 in order to keep the pressure on Syria to get
completely out of Lebanon, stop supporting terror and end its
weapons of mass destruction program. LASLA strengthens existing
sanctions on Syria and requires that they remain in effect until
the President certifies that sovereignty has been restored to
Lebanon and that Syria has ceased any and all terrorist support
and dismantled its non-conventional weapons program. The bill also
calls for new sanctions on companies and countries which provide
destabilizing weapons to Syria and calls for a State Department
report to Congress on Syrian activities.
LASLA also calls for a diplomatic strategy to address the threat
posed by the Syrian regime, including resolutions at the UN
Commission on Human Rights condemning Syrian human rights
violations against its own and the Lebanese people. In addition,
it calls for blocking World Bank and IMF loans in assistance to
Syria and for the U.S. opposition to Syrian membership and
candidacy for leadership posts in any UN body or affiliated
agency. It provides for American assistance to pro-democracy
advocates and opposition groups in Syria and Lebanon.
Amongst Syria’s human rights violations is the holding American
citizen and Israeli MIA Zachary Baumel hostage since 1982 without
revealing any information as to his condition or whereabouts. It
is time the U.S. insist on Syrian cooperation on the case of
Zachary Baumel.
The OU strongly urges members of Congress to
support and help pass the Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act,
H.R.1141.
Please contact elected officials and urge them to support
H.R.1141, the Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act.
Write to your Senators and Representatives at:
Representative _____________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Tel: 202-224-3121
(Ask for the name of your Representative) |
Senator _____________
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Tel: 202-224-3121
(Ask for the name of your Senator) |
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