# Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1993

Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-125, S.1487) was signed by President Bill Clinton on October 28, 1993, a month after the signing of the Oslo Accords, an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In the act, the United States' Congress gave the President the conditional authority to lift sanctions against the PLO and ordered the U.S. State Department to monitor the PLO's compliance with the Accords. This was designed to provide aid funding to the Palestinians in hopes of promoting the Middle East Peace Process.

## History

For hundreds of years, the Middle East has been a hotbed of violent disagreement, extremist tactics and nearly continual upheaval. Discord between Jews and Muslims in the region containing their holiest of sites seems like a problem without a solution. In spite of this there have been a long series of attempted solutions to the problem of the Holy Land, from European powers, from the United Nations and eventually the United States. One of the earliest American solutions was the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1993. An attempt to use the economic and financial might to promote the post-Oslo peace, the Act is a fascinating example of the American domestic policy process and how it can effect the nature of world events. Ultimately, the Peace Act would not save the fragile peace planted in the early 1990s, but it would create a precedent of American aid to both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which continues today.

## Original language
### Context of the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1993

Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1993 was established as three sections endorsing United States presidential authority to suspend specified determinations of law confining foreign and United Nations assistance to the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1993 as short title - 107 Stat. 1309 § 1
Findings of 103rd Congress - 107 Stat. 1309 § 2
* Palestine Liberation Organization has recognized the State of Israel's right to exist in peace and security;
* Accepted United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 and United Nations Security Council Resolution 338;
* Committed itself to the peace process and peaceful coexistence with Israel, free from violence and all other acts which endanger peace and stability;
* Assumed responsibility over all Palestine Liberation Organization elements find personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent violations, and discipline violators
* Israel has recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization as the representative of the Palestinian people;
* Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization signed a Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Govemment Arrangements on September 13, 1993 ― Israel–Palestine Liberation Organization letters of recognition
* United States has resumed a bilateral dialogue with the Palestine Liberation Organization;
* Implementation of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Govemment Arrangements and facilitate the Middle East peace process
* President of the United States requested flexibility to suspend certain provisions of law pertaining to the Palestine Liberation Organization
Authority to Suspend Certain Provisions - 107 Stat. 1309-1311 § 3
* Conditions
    Consultation
    Presidential Certification
    Requirement for Continuing PLO Compliance
    PLO Commitments Described
* Expectation of Congress Regarding any Extension of Presidential Authority
    Reconciliation of Arab League boycott of Israel
    Member states of the Arab League to end the boycotts of Israel
    Cooperating with efforts undertaken by the President of the United States to end the Arab League boycott of Israel
* Provisions That May Be Suspended
    Section 307 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2227)
    Section 114 of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (22 U.S.C. 287e note)
    Section 1003 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. 5202)
    Section 37 of the Bretton Woods Agreement Act (22 U.S.C. 286w) ― Bretton Woods system
* Relation to Other Authorities
* Relevant Congressional Committees Defined

## Subsequent relevant legislation

U.S. Statutes subsequent to Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1993 :
| Date of Enactment | Public Law No. | U.S. Statute | U.S. Bill No. | U.S. Presidential Administration |
| July 2, 1995 | P.L. 104-17 | 109 Stat. 191 | S. 962 | William J. Clinton |
| August 14, 1995 | P.L. 104-22 | 109 Stat. 260 | H.R. 2161 | William J. Clinton |
| September 30, 1995 | P.L. 104-30 | 109 Stat. 277 | H.R. 2404 | William J. Clinton |
| November 13, 1995 | P.L. 104-47 | 109 Stat. 423 | H.R. 2589 | William J. Clinton |
| February 12, 1996 | P.L. 104-107 | 110 Stat. 755 | S. 1064 | William J. Clinton |