    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 4 (Monday, January 27, 1997)]
    [Pages 72-73]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Message to the Congress on the Emergency With Respect to Terrorists Who
    Threaten the Middle East Peace Process

    January 21, 1997

    To the Congress of the United States:

        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 emergency is to continue in effect beyond the
    anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent the
    enclosed notice to the Federal Register for publication, stating that
    the emergency declared with respect to grave acts of violence committed
    by foreign terrorists that disrupt the Middle East peace process, is to
    continue in effect beyond January 23, 1997. The first notice continuing
    this emergency was published in the Federal Register last year on
    January 22, 1996.
        The crisis with respect to the grave acts of violence committed by
    foreign terrorists that threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace
    process that led to the declaration of a national emergency, on January
    23, 1995, has not been resolved. Terrorist groups continue to engage in
    activities with the purpose or effect of threatening the Middle East
    peace process, and which are hostile to U.S. interests in the region.
    Such actions threaten vital interests of the national security, foreign
    policy, and economy of the United States. For these reasons, I have
    determined that it is necessary to maintain in force the broad
    authorities necessary to deny any financial support from the United
    States for foreign terrorists that threaten to disrupt the Middle East
    peace process.

                                                William J. Clinton

    The White House,
    January 21, 1997.

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