    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 18, 2002]
    [Pages 108-109]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders on Continuation of the National
    Emergency With Respect to Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle
    East Peace Process
    January 18, 2002

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d))
    provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,
    prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President
    publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice
    stating that the

    [[Page 109]]

    emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In
    accordance with this provision, I have sent the enclosed notice, stating
    that the emergency declared with respect to foreign terrorists who
    threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process is to continue in
    effect beyond January 23, 2002, to the Federal Register for publication.
    The most recent notice continuing this emergency was published in the
    Federal Register on January 22, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 7371).
        The crisis with respect to the grave acts of violence committed by
    foreign terrorists that disrupt the Middle East peace process that led
    to the declaration of a national emergency on January 23, 1995, as
    expanded on August 20, 1998, has not been resolved. Terrorist groups
    continue to engage in activities that have the purpose or effect of
    threatening the Middle East peace process, and that are hostile to
    United States interests in the region. Such actions constitute an
    unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
    policy, and economy of the United States. For these reasons, I have
    determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency
    declared with respect to foreign terrorists who threaten to disrupt the
    Middle East peace process and maintain in force the economic sanctions
    against them to respond to this threat.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the
    Senate. This letter was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    January 24. The notice of January 18 is listed in Appendix D at the end
    of this volume.