A resolution urging Saudi Arabia to dissolve its "martyrs" fund and to refuse to support terrorism in any way.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that Saudi Arabia should: (1) immediately dissolve its "martyrs" fund (designed to fund acts of violence or to compensate families of Palestinian suicide bombers); (2) fulfill its commitment to combat violence and terrorism; and (3) eliminate the funding of terrorism.

[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 258 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 258

 Urging Saudi Arabia to dissolve its ``martyrs'' fund and to refuse to 
                     support terrorism in any way.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 1, 2002

  Mr. Smith of New Hampshire (for himself and Mr. Nelson of Nebraska) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Urging Saudi Arabia to dissolve its ``martyrs'' fund and to refuse to 
                     support terrorism in any way.

Whereas in the days following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United 
        States, the United States Government, its allies, and friends quickly 
        agreed that identifying and severing sources of finance to entities 
        which support and fund terrorist activities is critical to combating 
        terrorism and preventing future terrorist acts against United States 
        citizens and interests;
Whereas, since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, 
        the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has publicly condemned terrorism in all its 
        shapes and forms;
Whereas on February 5, 2002, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia released a statement--

    (1) expressing the commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to 
preventing charitable and humanitarian organizations and the funds they 
raise from ``being used for any other purpose''; and

    (2) confirming ``that it will take every measure possible to prevent 
the use of these charitable efforts for any unlawful activities, in 
accordance with international resolutions in this regard'';

Whereas a press release on the Embassy of Saudi Arabia website states that ``the 
        Saudi Committee for Support of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Intifada has so far 
        distributed about SR 123.75 million (U.S. $33 million). Minister of the 
        Interior Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, who is the Committee's Chairman, 
        expressed his appreciation to the Saudi people for their response in 
        supporting their Palestinian brothers in Israel's blatant aggression 
        against them. Financial aid has been disbursed to the families . . . of 
        358 martyrs, as well as 8,000 wounded, 1,000 handicapped, and another 
        102 Palestinians who have received treatment in the Kingdom's 
        hospital.'';
Whereas an August 20, 2001, press release on the Embassy of Saudi Arabia website 
        states that the Saudi Government, in 2000, in support of the Al-Intifada 
        (uprising), ``. . . offered financial support to one thousand families 
        of Palestinian martyrs and those who suffered injuries in the cause'';
Whereas an April 9, 2002 UPI.COM article states that ``Saudi Arabia makes no 
        distinction in compensation to families of suicide bombers and those 
        killed by Israeli military action''; and
Whereas martyrs' funds, or any other source of funding, explicitly designed to 
        fund acts of violence, or to compensate the family members of those 
        individuals who engage in violent activities, are recognized as acts to 
        entice and recruit individuals to undertake suicide bombings and other 
        terrorist acts, and reinforces such violence as a legitimate method to 
        air and to forward political grievances and nationalistic goals: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia should--
            (1) immediately dissolve its ``martyrs'' fund;
            (2) fulfill its stated commitment to combating violence and 
        terrorism; and
            (3) eliminate the funding of terrorism in every way 
        possible.
                                 <all>