House Resolution Calls on UN to Turn Over Video
of Kidnapping
(July 30, 2001)
On July 30, 2001, a resolution expressing
the sense of the House of Representatives that the UN
should transfer to the Israeli Government an unedited
videotape which could provide material evidence for
the investigation into the abduction of three Israeli
Defense Force soldiers by Hezbollah forces was passed 411-4. The text and vote follow:
H.Res.191
Whereas on October 7, 2000, Hezbollah
forces illegally crossed the Israeli border with Lebanon
and kidnapped 3 Israli Defense Force soldiers, Adi Avitan,
Binyamin Avraham, and Omar Souad;
Whereas 9 months after the kidnapping,
Hezbollah released no information as to the whereabouts
and conditions of these soldiers;
Whereas the events leading up to,
surrounding, and immediately following the kidnapping
remain unknown;
Whereas after long denial the United
Nations admitted to possession of a videotape that contains
images which could provide material evidence for the
investigation into the incident on October 7, 2000;
Whereas this videotape would help
to assess the conditions of the soldiers and assist
in the investigation to determine the identities of
the
kidnappers and their methods; and
Whereas to date the United Nations
is reluctant to transfer an uncensored form of the videotape
to Israeli Government authorities investigating this
incident:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
House of Representatives that the United Nations should
immediately transfer an unedited and uncensored form
of the videotape that contains images which could provide
material evidence for the investigation into the incident
on October 7, 2000, when Hezbollah forces abducted 3
Israeli Defense Force soldiers, Adi Avitan, Binyamin
Avraham, and Omar Souad, as well as any other material
evidence the United Nations may possess, to the Israeli
Government to assist its investigation of this incident.
Sources: Library of Congress |