RES. NO. 1606 Title Resolution calling upon Hizbullah to immediately release the three Israeli Defense Force soldiers currently held hostage. Body By the Speaker (Council Member Vallone) and Council Members Nelson, Berman, Clarke, Dear, Malave-Dilan, Eisland, Fisher, Henry, Lopez, Michels, Moskowitz, The Public Advocate (Mr.Green), Fiala, Golden and Stabile; also Council Members Koslowitz, Leffler, Miller, O'Donovan, Povman, Rodriguez and Wooten Whereas, On October 7th, 2000, Hizbullah agents illegally crossed the internationally-recognized border between Israel and Lebanon; and Whereas, In the course of this infiltration, Sergeant Adi Avitan of Tiberias, Staff Sergeant Avraham Binyamin of Bnei Brak, and Staff Sergeant Omer Suaed of the Salma Village were kidnapped and forcibly transported out of Israel; and Whereas, This capture is an act of aggression and provocation whose protraction serves only to aggravate the ongoing instability and conflict in the region and to frustrate any call for peace; and Whereas, The government of Israel, and Jewry around the world have called for the release of the hostage soldiers; and Whereas, It is an outrage that their illegal incarceration should last any longer; and Whereas, The soldiers deserve all the world's support in calling for their freedom; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED: That the Council of the City of New York calls upon Hizbullah to immediately release the three Israeli Defense Force soldiers currently held hostage.