[House Document 107-254]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-254
PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO TERRORISTS
WHO THREATEN TO DISRUPT THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
A SIX MONTH PERIODIC REPORT ON THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY, DECLARED IN
EXECUTIVE ORDER 12947 OF JANUARY 23, 1995, WITH RESPECT TO TERRORISTS
WHO THREATEN TO DISRUPT THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, PURSUANT TO 50
U.S.C. 1641(c) AND 50 U.S.C. 1703(c)
September 4, 2002.--Referred to the Committee on International
Relations and ordered to be printed
The White House,
Washington, July 31, 2002.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: As required by section 401(c) of the
National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c), and section 204(c)
of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C.
1703(c), I transmit herewith a 6-month periodic report prepared
by my Administration on the national emergency with respect to
terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace
process that was declared in Executive Order 12947 of January
23, 1995.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush.
Periodic Report on the National Emergency With Respect to Terrorists
Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process
This report covers developments over the course of the past
6-months concerning the national emergency with respect to
terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace
process that was declared in Executive Order 12947 of January
23, 1995, as expanded in scope by Executive Order 13099 of
August 20, 1998. The report is submitted pursuant to section
204(c) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50
U.S.C. 1703(c) (IEEPA), and section 401(c) of the National
Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c).
1. There have been no amendments to the Terrorism Sanctions
Regulations, 31 CFR Part 595 (the ``Regulations''), during the
current reporting period.
2. On March 27, 2002, the Department of the Treasury's
Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added the Al-Aqsa
Martyrs Brigade (a.k.a. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Battalion), a Fatah-
affiliated group in the West Bank, to its list of Specially
Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. The Secretary of
State designated Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade pursuant to section
1(a)(ii)(A) of Executive Order 12947, as amended, and
concurrently, pursuant to section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224
of September 23, 2001, (``Blocking Property and Prohibiting
Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or
Support Terrorism'') and as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act
of 1996. On May 31, 2002, OFAC issued a superseding designation
of Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) of
Richardson, Texas, its other offices in the United States, and
its offices in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as both a
SpecialDesignated Terrorist (SDT) and a Special Designated Global
Terrorist (SDGT). HLF was initially designated an SDT and an SDGT on
December 4, 2001.
3. As of May 29, 2002, OFAC has issued two licenses
authorizing the release of blocked funds after it was
determined that there was no SDT property interest in the
funds.
4. As of May 29, 2002, six transactions, totaling
approximately $60,000, in which an SDT had an interest, were
blocked during this reporting period. This brings the total
blocked assets being reported to OFAC to more than $6,450,000.
The blocking of these funds prevents their conversion or other
disposal for the benefit of the SDT. Federal agencies will
continue to work closely to identify and block assets in which
SDTs have an interest.
5. Since the last report, one U.S. financial institution is
undergoing civil penalty enforcement action for allegations or
prohibited transactions with an SDT.
6. The expenses incurred by the Federal Government in the
6-month period from January 23 through July 22, 2002, that are
directly attributable to the exercise of powers and authorities
conferred by the declaration of the national emergency with
respect to terrorists who threaten to disrupt the Middle East
peace process are estimated at approximately $235,000. These
data do not reflect certain costs of operations by the
intelligence and law enforcement communities.
7. Executive Orders 12947 and 13099 provide a tool for
combating fundraising in this country on behalf of
organizations that use terror to undermine the Middle East
peace process. The orders make it harder for such groups to
finance these criminal activities by impeding their access to
sources of support in the United States and to U.S. financial
facilities. They are also intended to reach charitable
contributions to designated organizations and individuals to
preclude diversion of such donations to terrorist activities.
The Executive Orders demonstrate the United States'
determination to confront and combat those who would seek to
destroy the Middle East peace process and our commitment to the
global fight against terrorism.