    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [August 22, 2003]
    [Page 1053]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Designation of Hamas Leadership and European Funding
    Sources Under Executive Order 13224
    August 22, 2003

        At my direction, the Treasury Department has moved today to block
    and freeze the assets of six top Hamas leaders and five nongovernmental
    organizations that I am advised provide financial support to Hamas. By
    claiming responsibility for the despicable act of terror on August 19,
    Hamas has reaffirmed that it is a terrorist organization committed to
    violence against Israelis and to undermining progress toward peace
    between Israel and the Palestinian people.
        I call upon all nations supportive of peace in the Middle East to
    recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization and to take all appropriate
    actions to deny it support.