KOBY MANDELL JUSTICE for AMERICAN VICTIMS OF TERRORISM ACT of 2001 107th CONGRESS 1st Session S

U.S. SENATE
KOBY MANDELL
JUSTICE FOR AMERICAN VICTIMS
OF TERRORISM ACT of 2001

The Koby Mandell Act, known as S.1377 in the Senate and H.R.2098 in the House of Representatives, is named after Jacob "Koby" Mandell, the 13 year-old boy from Maryland who was brutally murdered by Palestinian Arab terrorists in Israel last year (2001). The bodies of Ya'acov (Jacob "Kobi") Mandell and his friend Yosef (Yossi) Ish-Ran from the Israeli settlement, Tekoa, were dragged into a nearby cave and blungeoned to death with rocks. Their faces were so badly mutilated, that identification was based upon their clothing.

In response to the Palestinian Arab murders of Americans, and the PA's policy of sheltering the killers, the Zionist Organization of America strongy supports the Koby Mandell Act, which would create a special office within the Justice Department to gather evidence against Palestinian Arab killers of Americans; arrange for the terrorists to brought to the U.S. for trial; initiate negotiations with the Palestinian Authority for financial compensation for families of victims; and maintain a regular liaison with the families to update them on efforts to capture the killers.

107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1377

To require the Attorney General to establish an office in the Department of Justice to monitor acts of international terrorism alleged to have been committed by Palestinian individuals or individuals acting on behalf of Palestinian organizations and to carry out certain other related activities.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 3, 2001

Mr. Smith of Oregon introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL
To require the Attorney General to establish an office in the Department of Justice to monitor acts of international terrorism alleged to have been committed by Palestinian individuals or individuals acting on behalf of Palestinian organizations and to carry out certain other related activities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Koby Mandell Justice for American Victims of Terrorism Act of 2001'.

SEC. 2.
FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) Since 1948, many United States citizens have been injured or killed in terrorist attacks committed by Palestinian individuals and organizations in and outside of the Middle East.
(2) Under United States law, individuals who commit acts of international terrorism outside of the United States against nationals of the United States may be prosecuted for such acts in the United States.
(3) The United States has taken a special interest and active role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including numerous diplomatic efforts to facilitate a resolution of the conflict and the provision of financial assistance to Palestinian organizations.
(4) However, despite these diplomatic efforts and financial assistance, little has been done to apprehend, indict, prosecute, and convict Palestinian individuals who have committed terrorist attacks against nationals of the United States.

SEC. 3.
ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO MONITOR TERRORIST ACTS BY PALESTINIAN INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND CARRY OUT RELATED ACTIVITIES.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General shall establish within the Department of Justice an office to carry out the following activities:

(1) Monitor acts of international terrorism alleged to have been committed by Palestinian individuals or individuals acting on behalf of Palestinian organizations.
(2) Collect information against individuals alleged to have committed acts of international terrorism described in paragraph (1).
(3) Offer rewards for information on individuals alleged to have committed acts of international terrorism described in paragraph (1), including the dissemination of information relating to such rewards in the Arabic-language media.
(4) Negotiate with the Palestinian Authority or related entities to obtain financial compensation for nationals of the United States, or their families, injured or killed by acts of terrorism described in paragraph (1).
(5) In conjunction with other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, establish and implement alternative methods to apprehend, indict, prosecute, and convict individuals who commit acts of terrorism described in paragraph (1).
(6) Contact the families of victims of acts of terrorism described in paragraph (1) and provide updates on the progress to apprehend, indict, prosecute, and convict the individuals who commit such acts.
(7) In order to effectively carry out paragraphs (1) through (6), provide for the permanent stationing of an appropriate number of United States officials in Israel, in territory administered by Israel, in territory administered by the Palestinian Authority, and elsewhere, to the extent practicable.

(b) DEFINITION- In this section, the term `international terrorism' has the meaning given such term in section 2331(1) of title 18, United States Code.

SEC. 4.
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2002 and each subsequent fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

(b) AVAILABILITY- Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to remain available until expended.

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