[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 30 (Monday, July 31, 1995)]
[Pages 1319-1320]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 designated 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 
attributable 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 cen- 

[[Page 1320]]

tered 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.