[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H556-H557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


DECLARATION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO THREATENED DISRUPTION 
OF MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS BY COMMISSION OF GRAVE ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY 
      TERRORISTS--MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. Shays] laid before the House the 
following message from the President of the United States; which was 
read and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the 
Committee on International Relations and ordered to be printed:

To the Congress of the United States:
  Pursuant to section 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. 1703(b) and section 301 of the National 
Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1631, I hereby report that I have exercised 
my statutory authority to declare a national emergency with respect to 
the grave acts of violence committed by foreign terrorists that 
threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process and to issue an 
Executive order that:
  --Blocks all property, including bank deposits, of foreign persons or 
    organizations designated in the Executive order or pursuant 
    thereto, which is in the United States or in the control of United 
    States persons, including their overseas branches; and
  --Prohibits any transaction or dealing by United States persons in 
    such property, including the making or receiving of any 
    contribution of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of 
    such designated persons.
  I have designated in the Executive order 12 foreign organizations 
that threaten to use violence to disrupt the Middle East peace process. 
I have authorized the Secretary of State to designate additional 
foreign persons who have committed, or pose a significant risk of 
committing, acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of 
disrupting the Middle East peace process, or who assist in, sponsor, or 
provide financial, material or technical support for, or services in 
support of, such acts of violence. Such designations are to be made in 
coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney 
General.
  The Secretary of the Treasury is further authorized to designate 
persons or entities that he determines, in coordination with the 
Secretary of State and the Attorney General, are owned or controlled 
by, or acting for or on behalf
 of, any of the foreign persons designated under this order. The 
Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations in 
exercise of my authorities under the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act to implement these measures in consultation with the 
Secretary of State and the Attorney General and to coordinate such 
implementation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. All Federal 
agencies are directed to take actions within their authority to carry 
out the provisions of the Executive order.

  I am enclosing a copy of the Executive order that I have issued. The 
order was effective at 12:01 a.m., eastern standard time on January 24, 
1995.
  [[Page H557]] I have authorized these measures in response to 
recurrent acts of international terrorism that threaten to disrupt the 
Middle East peace process. They include such acts as the bomb attacks 
in Israel this past weekend and other recent attacks in Israel, attacks 
on government authorities in Egypt, threats against Palestinian 
authorities in the autonomous regions, and the bombing of the Jewish 
Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires, as well as the car bomb at 
the Israeli Embassy in London.
  Achieving peace between Israel and its neighbors has long been a 
principal goal of American foreign policy. Resolving this conflict 
would eliminate a major source of instability in a part of the world in 
which we have critical interests, contribute to the security and well-
being of Israel, and strengthen important bilateral relationships in 
the Arab world.
  Attempts to disrupt the Middle East peace process through terrorism 
by groups opposed to peace have threatened and continue to threaten 
vital interests of the United States, thus constituting an unusual and 
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and 
economy of the United States.
  Terrorist groups engaging in such terrorist acts receive financial 
and material support for their efforts from persons in the Middle East 
and elsewhere who oppose that process. Individuals and groups in the 
United States, too, have been targets of fundraising efforts on behalf 
of terrorist organizations.
  Fundraising for terrorism and use of the U.S. banking system for 
transfers on behalf of such organizations are inimical to American 
interests. Further, failure to take effective action against similar 
fundraising and transfers in foreign countries indicate the need for 
leadership by the United States on this subject. Thus, it is necessary 
to provide the tools to combat any financial support from the United 
States for such terrorist activities. The United States will use these 
actions on our part to impress on our allies in Europe and elsewhere 
the seriousness of the danger of terrorist funding threatening the 
Middle East peace process, and to encourage them to adopt appropriate 
and effective measures to cut off terrorist fundraising and the 
harboring of terrorist assets in their territories and by their 
nationals.
  The measures we are taking demonstrate our determination to thwart 
acts of terrorism that threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace 
process by attacking any material or financial support for such acts 
that may emanate from the United States.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, January 23, 1995.
  

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