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September 17, 2002
Orthodox Union Urges Passage of Syria Accountability Act, S. 2215, H.R.
4483
Ever since Israel withdrew from Lebanon in accordance
with UN resolution 425, Syria has been giving Hezbollah a green light to
continually attack Israel’s northern border. Syria is one of the world’s
leading sponsors of international terrorism. Syria 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.
Just as other states on the terrorist list have been punished with US
sanctions, Syria should also not be allowed to continue its terrorism
activity with impunity.
The Orthodox Union, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish synagogue
organization, strongly supports legislation introduced in the House and in
the Senate called the Syria Accountability Act, introduced by Senators
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) as S. 2215 and by
Representatives Dick Armey (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY) as 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withdrawn its forces from Lebanon, halted its development of missiles and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.
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 support of the Syrian government, risk leading to a
wider regional war.
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 while earning $1
billion a year in the process.
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 is subject to fewer U.S. sanctions than any other country listed as
a state sponsor of terrorism. The Orthodox Union strongly urges the
imposition of U.S. sanctions on Syria whose support for terrorism and
terrorist organizations undermines freedom and democracy. Congress should
pass the Syria Accountability Act without delay.
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