    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [July 27, 1995]
    [Pages 1162-1163]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress Reporting on Terrorists Who Threaten the Middle
    East Peace Process
    July 27, 1995

    To the Congress of the United States:
        I hereby report to the Congress on the developments concerning the
    national emergency with respect to organizations that threaten to
    disrupt the Middle East peace process that was declared in Executive
    Order No. 12947 of January 23, 1995. This report is submitted pursuant
    to section 401(c) of the National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. 1641(c);
    section 204(c) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
    (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); and section 505(c) of the International
    Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1985, 22 U.S.C. 2349aa-9(c).
        1. On January 23, 1995, I signed Executive Order No. 12947,
    ``Prohibiting Transactions with Terrorists Who Threaten to Disrupt the
    Middle East Process'' (the ``order'') (60 Fed. Reg. 5079, January 25,
    1995). The order blocks all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in
    which there is any interest of 12 terrorist organizations that threaten
    the Middle East peace process as identified in an Annex to the order.
    The order also blocks the property and interests in property subject to
    U.S. jurisdiction of persons designated by the Secretary of State, in
    coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney
    General, who are found (1) to have committed, or to pose a significant
    risk of committing, acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of
    disrupting the Middle East peace process, or (2) to assist in, sponsor,
    or provide financial, material, or technological support for, or
    services in support of, such acts of violence. In addition, the order
    blocks all property and interests in property subject to U.S.
    jurisdiction in which there is any interest of persons determined by the
    Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of State
    and the Attorney General, to be owned or controlled by, or to act for or
    on behalf of, any other person des-

    ignated pursuant to the order (collectively ``Specially Designated
    Terrorists'' or ``SDTs'').
        The order further prohibits any transaction or dealing by a United
    States person or within the United States in property or interests in
    property of SDTs, including the making or receiving of any contribution
    of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of such persons. This
    prohibition includes donations that are intended to relieve human
    suffering.
        Designations of persons blocked pursuant to the order are effective
    upon the date of determination by the Secretary of State or his
    delegate, or the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (FAC)
    acting under authority delegated by the Secretary of the Treasury.
    Public notice of blocking is effective upon the date of filing with the
    Federal Register, or upon prior actual notice.
        2. On January 25, 1995, FAC issued a notice listing persons blocked
    pursuant to Executive Order No. 12947 who have been designated by the
    President as terrorist organizations threatening the Middle East peace
    process or who have been found to be owned or controlled by, or to be
    acting for or on behalf of, these terrorist organizations (60 Fed. Reg.
    5084, January 25, 1995). The notice identifies 31 entities that act for
    or on behalf of the 12 Middle East terrorist organizations listed in the
    Annex to Executive Order No. 12947, as well as 18 individuals who are
    leaders or representatives of these groups. In addition the notice
    provides 9 name variations or pseudonyms used by the 18 individuals
    identified. The FAC, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the
    Attorney General, will continue to expand the list of terrorist
    organizations as additional information is developed. A copy of the
    notice is attached to this report.
        3. The expenses incurred by the Federal Government in the 6-month
    period from January 23 through July 21, 1995, that are directly attrib-

    [[Page 1163]]

    utable to the exercise of powers and authorities conferred by the
    declaration of the national emergency with respect to organizations that
    disrupt the Middle East peace process are estimated at approximately
    $55,000. Personnel costs were largely centered in the Department of the
    Treasury (particularly in the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the
    Office of the General Counsel, and the U.S. Customs Service), the
    Department of State, and the Department of Justice.
        4. Executive Order No. 12947 provides this Administration with a new
    tool for combatting fundraising in this country on behalf of
    organizations that use terror to undermine the Middle East peace
    process. The order makes it harder for such groups to finance these
    criminal activities by cutting off their access to sources of support in
    the United States and to U.S. financial facilities. It is also intended
    to reach charitable contributions to designated organizations to
    preclude diversion of such donations to terrorist activities.
        In addition, I have sent to the Congress new comprehensive
    counterterrorism legislation that would strengthen our ability to
    prevent terrorist acts, identify those who carry them out, and bring
    them to justice. The combination of Executive Order No. 12947 and the
    proposed legislation 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.
        I shall continue to exercise the powers at my disposal to apply
    economic sanctions against extremists seeking to destroy the hopes of
    peaceful coexistence between Arabs and Israelis as long as these
    measures are appropriate, and will continue to report periodically to
    the Congress on significant developments pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1703(c).

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    July 27, 1995.