DATE=        FEBRUARY 1, 1998
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-07630
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  TERRORISM EMERGENCY CONTINUES

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 
FEBRUARY 1, 1998.  PLEASE NOTE CORRECTION IN LAST SENTENCE OF 
FIRST PARAGRAPH.

ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 
VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT RELENT IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST 
TERRORISTS AT HOME AND ABROAD.  ONE WAY THE U.S. IS FIGHTING 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS IS THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED BY 
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON IN JANUARY 1995.  THE EXECUTIVE ORDER 
DECLARED AN EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO TERRORISTS WHO THREATEN TO 
DISRUPT THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS.  AS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER 
SAID, THE TERRORIST ACTS PERPETRATED BY THOSE OPPOSED TO MIDDLE 
EAST PEACE CONSTITUTE AN UNUSUAL AND EXTRAORDINARY THREAT TO THE 
SECURITY, FOREIGN POLICY AND ECONOMY OF THE U.S.  RECENTLY, 
PRESIDENT CLINTON ISSUED A NOTICE CONTINUING THE NATIONAL 
EMERGENCY.

    THE EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRES U.S. BANKS TO FREEZE ANY 
FINANCIAL ASSETS HELD BY A NUMBER OF GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT 
THREATEN TO DISRUPT THE PEACE PROCESS.  THE LIST INCLUDES SUCH 
TERRORIST GROUPS AS HAMAS, HIZBALLAH, THE ABU NIDAL ORGANIZATION 
AND THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE-GENERAL 
COMMAND, AS WELL AS THE JEWISH EXTREMIST GROUPS KACH AND KAHANE 
CHAI.  AMONG THE INDIVIDUALS LISTED AS SUPPORTERS OF TERRORISM 
ARE ABU ABBAS, LEADER OF THE PALESTINE LIBERATION FRONT, AND 
GEORGE HABASH, HEAD OF THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF 
PALESTINE.  THE EXECUTIVE ORDER FORBIDS FINANCIAL TRANSFERS FROM 
INDIVIDUALS IN THE U.S. TO SUCH TERRORISTS.  THE GOAL IS TO DENY 
TERRORISTS ACCESS TO FUNDS RAISED OSTENSIBLY FOR CHARITABLE 
CAUSES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.  THE U.S. HAS URGED OTHER CONCERNED 
GOVERNMENTS TO TAKE SIMILAR STEPS TO BLOCK TERRORIST FUNDRAISING.

    AS PRESIDENT CLINTON STRESSED, "JUST AS WE MUST REWARD AND 
ENCOURAGE THE BUILDERS OF PEACE AND DEMOCRACY, WE MUST GIVE NO 
QUARTER TO THE ENEMIES OF THESE ASPIRATIONS. . . . [T]HE PATH TO 
CHANGE IS THROUGH DIALOGUE AND OPEN DELIBERATION, NOT VIOLENCE 
AND HATRED.  THE U.S. IS COMMITTED TO FIGHT AGAINST THOSE WHO 
SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF TERROR."

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, 
PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 
20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.  
YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.

30-Jan-98 3:39 PM EST (2039 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.