(Congressional Record) On March 30, 2004, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Koby Mandell Act as part of the Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act for FY2004-2006. The legislation would establish an office within the Department of Justice for the purpose of ensuring equally vigorous efforts to capture all terrorists who have harmed American citizens overseas and equal treatment for all American victims of overseas terrorism. "We have seen 36 Americans murdered by Palestinian terrorists alone since the Oslo Accords have been signed; yet there have been zero indictments. There have been no real rewards. Suspects' names and faces have not been listed by the Justice Department. The Koby Mandell Act changes that," said Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY). Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) said: Koby Mandell was a 13-year-old boy who until he was in fourth grade had lived in Maryland, and his family moved to Israel. In May 2001, Koby and a friend went hiking, and they were never to return. They were stoned to death by Palestinian terrorists. Since the time of his murder, there has been no meaningful investigation or prosecution to bring to justice those who committed this murder. If a person who has murdered an American citizen is not properly dealt with in another land, this office will have responsibility to extradite and bring that person to trial in this country. Further, if any official authorities, security agents, or police officers responsible for the murder of an American citizen are still in place, appropriate diplomatic and economic actions would be taken against the government that sponsors those authorities.
2004-04-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive