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EO 12947Executive OrderClinton · D Quiet signal

Executive Order 12947

Prohibiting Transactions With Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process

This executive order declares a national emergency and blocks all U.S.-based property and transactions of foreign terrorists and their supporters who threaten to disrupt the Middle East peace process. It authorizes the Secretary of State and Treasury to designate targeted individuals and entities, with enforcement coordinated through the FBI.

Federal Register Open PDF 60 FR 5079

Impact dates

  1. Order effective at 12:01 a.m. EST

  2. Investigations to be coordinated with FBI; criminal referrals to FBI with timely notification to Treasury

Key directives

  • Block all property and interests in property of designated persons in the U.S. or controlled by U.S. persons (Sec. 1(a))
  • Prohibit all transactions and dealings by U.S. persons in property of designated persons (Sec. 1(b))
  • Prohibit evasion or attempted violation of order (Sec. 1(c))
  • Secretary of State to designate foreign persons committing or risking acts of violence disrupting Middle East peace process (Sec. 1(a)(ii))
  • Secretary of Treasury to designate persons owned/controlled by or acting for designated persons (Sec. 1(a)(iii))
  • Prohibit donations by U.S. persons to designated persons (Sec. 3)
  • Treasury authorized to promulgate rules and regulations (Sec. 4(a))
  • FBI coordination required for investigations; criminal referrals to FBI (Sec. 4(b))

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Order effective 12:01 a.m. EST January 24, 1995
  • Blocking of property and interests in property of listed Annex persons
  • Prohibition on all transactions with designated persons

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of State designation of additional foreign persons meeting criteria
  • Secretary of Treasury designation of owned/controlled persons
  • Treasury promulgation of implementing rules and regulations

Long term

  • Ongoing designation and asset blocking regime
  • FBI coordination and criminal referrals for violations
  • Potential expansion of designated persons list

Risks & tensions

  • Designation criteria (Sec. 1(a)(ii)(A)) includes 'significant risk of committing' acts—standard of proof unclear, creating potential due process concerns
  • No explicit requirement for notice or opportunity to contest before designation
  • Coordination requirement between State, Treasury, and Attorney General may create bureaucratic friction in rapid-response scenarios
  • FBI coordination mandate (Sec. 4(b)) could slow enforcement but aims to prevent interagency conflict
  • Annex persons blocked immediately without separate administrative process
Executive Order 12947: Prohibiting Transactions With Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process · Executive Orders