[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book II)]
[August 20, 1998]
[Page 1463]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 1463]]


Letter to Congressional Leaders on Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt 
the Middle East Peace Process
August 20, 1998

Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
    On January 23, 1995, in light of the threat posed by grave acts of 
violence committed by foreign terrorists that disrupt the Middle East 
peace process, using my authority under, inter alia, the International 
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), I declared a 
national emergency and issued Executive Order 12947. Because such 
terrorist activities continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary 
threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the 
United States, I have renewed the national emergency declared in 
Executive Order 12947 annually, most recently on January 21, 1998. 
Pursuant to section 204(b) of the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1703(b)) and section 201 of the National 
Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1631), I hereby report to the Congress that I 
have exercised my statutory authority to issue an Executive Order that 
amends Executive Order 12947 in order more effectively to respond to the 
worldwide threat posed by foreign terrorists.
    The amendment to the Annex of Executive Order 12947 adds Usama bin 
Muhammad bin Awad bin Ladin (a.k.a. Usama bin Ladin), Islamic Army, Abu 
Hafs al-Masri, and Rifa'i Ahmad Taha Musa to the list of terrorists that 
are subject to the prohibitions contained in the Executive Order. These 
prohibitions include the blocking of all property and interests in the 
property of the terrorists listed in the Annex, the prohibition of any 
transaction or dealing by United States persons or within the United 
States in property or interests in property of the persons designated, 
and the prohibition of any transaction by any United States persons or 
within the United States that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of 
evading or avoiding, any of the prohibitions set forth in the Executive 
Order.
    Usama bin Ladin and his organizations and associates have repeatedly 
called upon their supporters to perform acts of violence. Bin Ladin has 
declared that killing Americans and their allies ``is an individual duty 
for every Muslim . . . in order to liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the 
Holy Mosque.'' These threats are clearly intended to violently disrupt 
the Middle East peace process.
    This Executive Order does not limit or otherwise affect the other 
provisions of Executive Order 12947.
    I have authorized these actions in view of the danger posed to the 
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States by 
the activities of Usama bin Muhammad bin Awad bin Ladin (a.k.a. Usama 
bin Ladin), Islamic Army, Abu Hafs al-Masri, and Rifa'i Ahmad Taha Musa 
that disrupt the Middle East peace process. I am enclosing a copy of the 
Executive Order that I have issued exercising my emergency authorities.
        Sincerely,

                                                            Bill Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House 
of Representatives, and Albert Gore, Jr., President of the Senate. This 
letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on August 22. 
The Executive order of August 20 is listed in Appendix D at the end of 
this volume.