    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [January 23, 1995]
    [Pages 74-75]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the
    Middle East Peace Process
    January 23, 1995

    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 technological 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.

    [[Page 75]]

        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.
        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.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    January 24. The Executive order of January 23 is listed in Appendix D at
    the end of this volume.