Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987

United States Law of 1987

Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987
Citations

Long title	A bill to make unlawful the establishment or maintenance within the United States of an office of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and for other purposes.
Nicknames	Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1988
Enacted by	the 100th United States Congress
Effective	March 21, 1988
Public law	Pub. L. 100–204
Statutes at Large	101 Stat. 1406
Codification
Titles amended	22 U.S.C.: Foreign Relations and Intercourse
U.S.C. sections created	22 U.S.C. ch. 61 § 5201 et seq.
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as H.R. 2548 by Wally Herger (R–CA) on May 28, 1987 Committee consideration by U.S. House Foreign Affairs Signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on December 22, 1987

Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 originated in the 100th United States Congress as four articles of anti-terrorism legislation. The United States House of Representatives bill H.R. 2587 was endorsed by eighty cosponsors while the United States Senate bill S. 1203 was endorsed by forty-nine cosponsors of the 100th United States Congress. The Act of Congress established prohibitions concerning the preoccupation of the Palestine Liberation Organization as a terrorist organization creating instability and meddling in the diplomatic relations of the Arab League and Middle East.

The Anti-Terrorism Act is an affiliate of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1988 and 1989. The Foreign Relations Authorization Act was codified as Public Law 100-204 bound as statute 101 Stat. 1331. The United States House bill H.R. 1777 was authorized by the 100th United States Congress and enacted into law by Ronald Reagan on December 22, 1987.

History

United States Foreign Policy Statute of 1969

Main article: Foreign Assistance Act

Foreign Assistance Act of 1969, (Pub. L. 91–175, 22 U.S.C. ch. 32, subch. I § 2221}), was a United States federal statute enacted into law by the 37th President of the United States Richard Nixon on December 30, 1969. The Act of Congress was the first United States legislative article to acknowledge the Palestine Liberation Organization as a militant force venerating the tactics of terrorism in the Fertile Crescent and Levant geographies of the Eastern Mediterranean or Mediterranean Basin.

22 U.S.C. § 2221 ~ Palestine Refugees; Conditions for Furnishing Assistance

International Organizations and Programs
No contributions by the United States shall be made to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East except on the condition that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency take all possible measures to assure that no part of the United States contribution shall be used to furnish assistance to any refugee who is receiving military training as a member of the so-called Palestine Liberation Army or any other guerrilla type organization or who has engaged in any act of terrorism.

— Thomas E. Morgan, United States House Representative of Pennsylvania
91st United States Congress - 83 Stat. 805 ~ H.R. 14580

October 29, 1969

Declaration of the Act

Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 was penned as five sections establishing reprehensible conditions with regards to Palestine Liberation Organization relations and conducting anarchist activities within the United States. The public law is declared as Title X - Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987.

Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 as short title - 101 Stat. 1406 § 1001

Determinations and Findings - 101 Stat. 1406-1407 § 1002

By 1985, sixty percent of Middle East terrorism accounted for total international terrorism ― Patterns of Global Terrorism
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) assisted activities in the Achille Lauro hijacking of October 7, 1985
Palestine Liberation Organization implicated in the fatality of United States ambassador to Lebanon Francis E. Meloy Jr.
PLO and constituent groups implicated in the fatality of dozens of American citizens abroad
Palestinian National Covenant issues a governing truth of armed struggle to liberate Palestine
During April 1987 in Algiers, Palestinian National Council meeting reaffirmed the ideology of the struggle in all its armed forms
United States Attorney General affirms that various elements of the Palestine Liberation Organization and its allies and affiliates are in the thick of international terror

Determinations - 101 Stat. 1407 § 1002

United States Congress determines the Palestine Liberation Organization and affiliates are a terrorist organization. The anarchist organization poses a peril threat to the interests of the United States, its allies, and international law. The Palestine Liberation Organization should not benefit from operating in the United States.

Prohibitions Regarding the PLO - 101 Stat. 1407 § 1003

For the purpose of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987, it is unlawful to further the interests of the Palestine Liberation Organization, any constituent groups, any successor to any of those, and any agents thereof;

(1) To receive anything of value except informational material from the PLO or any of its constituent groups, any successor thereto, or any agents thereof;

(2) To expend funds from the PLO or any of its constituent groups, any successor thereto, or any agents thereof;

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, to establish or maintain an office, headquarters, premises, or other facilities or establishments within the jurisdiction of the United States at the behest or direction of, or with funds provided by the Palestine Liberation Organization or any of its constituent groups, any successor to any of those, or any agents thereof.

Enforcement - 101 Stat. 1407 § 1004

United States Attorney General shall institute the necessary legal action to effectuate the policies and provisions of this title

Any district court of the United States for a district in which a violation of this title occurs shall have authority, upon petition of relief by the United States Attorney General, to grant injunctive and such other equitable relief as it shall deem necessary to enforce the provisions of this title

Effective Date - 101 Stat. 1407 § 1005

Provisions of this title shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act

Termination - 101 Stat. 1407 § 1005

Provisions of this title shall cease to have effect if the President certifies in writing to the' President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House that the Palestine Liberation Organization, its agents, or constituent groups thereof no longer practice or support terrorist actions anywhere in the world

References

Reagan, Ronald W. (December 22, 1987). "Statement on Signing the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 - December 22, 1987". Hathitrust Digital Library. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1541–1542.
Peters,Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Ronald W. Reagan: "Statement on Signing the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989" December 22, 1987". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
Nixon, Richard M. (December 31, 1969). "Statement on Signing the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 - December 31, 1969". Hathitrust Digital Library. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1047–1048.
Peters,Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Richard M. Nixon: "Statement on Signing the Foreign Assistance Act of 1969" December 31, 1969". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
Nixon, Richard M. (September 25, 1972). "Memorandum Establishing a Cabinet Committee To Combat Terrorism - September 25, 1972". Hathitrust Digital Library. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Service. pp. 912–913.
Nixon, Richard M. (September 27, 1972). "Statement About Action To Combat Terrorism - September 27, 1972". Hathitrust Digital Library. Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Archives and Records Service. pp. 921–922.
"International Organizations and Programs ~ 83 Stat. 819" [Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 ~ Pub. L. 91-175] (PDF). 83 Stat. 805 ~ House Bill 14580. U.S. Government Publishing Office. December 30, 1969.
"H.R. 14580 ~ Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 Introduced in 91st Congress". Congressional Record of 91st U.S. Congress, First Session ~ U.S. House of Representatives. 115 (24). Congress.gov: 32108. October 29, 1969.
"Foreign Assistance Act of 1969 ~ H.R. 14580". Pub. L. 91-175 ~ 83 Stat. 805. 91st Congress (1969-1970). Congress.gov. October 29, 1969.
Sabasteanski, Anna. "Patterns of Global Terrorism 1985-2005" [U.S. Department of State Reports with Supplementary Documents and Statistics]. Patterns of Global Terrorism. Vol. 1. Great Barrington, Massachusetts: Berkshire Publishing Company. ISBN 0974309133. OCLC 61724353 – via Internet Archive.
Sabasteanski, Anna. "Patterns of Global Terrorism 1985-2005" [U.S. Department of State Reports with Supplementary Documents and Statistics]. Patterns of Global Terrorism. Vol. 2. Great Barrington, Massachusetts: Berkshire Publishing Company. ISBN 0974309133. OCLC 61724353 – via Internet Archive.
"Francis Edward Meloy Jr. (1917–1976)". Office of the Historian ~ Foreign Service Institute. United States Department of State.

External links

Related United States Congressional legislation

H.R. 4078 - Repeal of Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987 at Congress.gov

H.R. 4522 - PLO Accountability Act at Congress.gov

S. 2537 - PLO Accountability Act at Congress.gov

S. 1060 - PLO Accountability Act of 2017 at Congress.gov

Communiqués of U.S. Department of State

"Guidance on U.S. Contacts with the Palestine Liberation Organization ~ Document 199" [Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XVIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1964–1967]. Office of the Historian ~ Foreign Service Institute. United States Department of State. March 30, 1965.
"Israel, The Arab States, And Palestine "Liberation" Activities ~ Document 255" [Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XVIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1964–1967]. Office of the Historian ~ Foreign Service Institute. United States Department of State. December 3, 1965.
"Palestine Arab Terrorist Organizations ~ Document 356" [Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XVIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute, 1964–1967]. Office of the Historian ~ Foreign Service Institute. United States Department of State. December 2, 1966.
"The Reagan Administration and Lebanon, 1981-1984" [Milestones: 1981-1988]. Office of the Historian ~ Foreign Service Institute. United States Department of State.
"The Madrid Conference, 1991" [Milestones: 1989-1992]. Office of the Historian ~ Foreign Service Institute. United States Department of State.

Statements of Ronald Reagan administration

Reagan, Ronald W. (August 24, 1982). "Letter to the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate on the Deployment of United States Forces in Beirut, Lebanon - August 24, 1982". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1078–1079.
Peters,Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Ronald W. Reagan: "Letter to the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate on the Deployment of United States Forces in Beirut, Lebanon" August 24, 1982". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
Reagan, Ronald W. (September 1, 1982). "Address to the Nation on United States Policy for Peace in the Middle East - September 1, 1982". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1093–1097.
Reagan, Ronald W. (April 18, 1983). "Statement on the Bombing of the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon - April 18, 1983". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 550–551.
Peters,Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Ronald W. Reagan: "Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 1777 - Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989" June 15, 1987". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.

Judicial records of United States district courts

Text of Palestine Information Office v. Shultz, 674 F. Supp. 910 (D.D.C. 1987) is available from: CourtListener Justia Casemine
Text of Constitutionality of Closing the Palestine Information Office, an Affiliate of the Palestine Liberation Organization (Op. Att’y Gen. 1987) is available from: CourtListener U.S. Department of Justice
Text of United States v. Palestine Liberation Organization, 695 F. Supp. 1456 (S.D.N.Y. 1988) is available from: CourtListener Justia Casemine
Text of Mendelsohn v. Meese, 695 F. Supp. 1474 (S.D.N.Y. 1988) is available from: CourtListener Justia Casemine
Text of Palestine Information Office v. George P. Shultz, Secretary of State, 853 F.2d 932 (D.C. Cir. 1988) is available from: CourtListener Justia Casemine
Koenig, Eric S. (October 1988). "United States v. Palestine Liberation Organization. No. 88 Civ. 1962 (ELP)". American Journal of International Law. 82 (4). Cambridge University Press: 833–837. doi:10.2307/2203521. JSTOR 2203521.

Informational and supplementary resources

Books about Palestine
Books about Palestinians
Cobban, Helena (October 1983). "The PLO in the Mid-1980s: Between the Gun and the Olive Branch". International Journal. 40 (4). Sage Publications, Ltd.: 635–651. JSTOR 40202204.
Gruen, George E. (1984). "The United States and Israel: Impact of the Lebanon War". American Jewish Year Book. 84. American Jewish Committee: 73–103. JSTOR 23603978.
Khalidi, Rashid (October 1985). "The Palestinian Dilemma: PLO Policy after Lebanon". Journal of Palestine Studies. 15 (1). Taylor & Francis, Ltd.: 88–103. doi:10.2307/2536578. JSTOR 2536578.
Golan, Galia (April 1986). "The Soviet Union and the PLO since the War in Lebanon". The Middle East Journal. 40 (2). Middle East Institute: 285–305. JSTOR 4327311.
Sciolino, Elaine (September 24, 1987). "Washington Talk: State Department; Ousting The P.L.O." The New York Times.
Abu-Khadra, Rajai M. (April 1988). "The Closure of the PLO Offices". Journal of Palestine Studies. 17 (3). Taylor & Francis, Ltd.: 51–62. doi:10.2307/2537459. JSTOR 2537459.
Lesch, Ann M. (January 1990). "U.S. Policy toward the Palestinians in the 1980s". Arab Studies Quarterly. 12 (1). Center for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies: 167–189. JSTOR 41858943.
Fischbach, Michael R. (October 2018). "Palestinian Offices in the United States". Journal of Palestine Studies. 48 (1). Taylor & Francis, Ltd.: 104–118. JSTOR 26770773.
"The Palestinians and Amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act: U.S. Aid and Personal Jurisdiction". Congress.gov. Congressional Research Service. March 18, 2020.

v t e Terrorism
Main articles	Definition History of terrorism International conventions Anti-terrorism legislation Counter-terrorism War on Terror
By ideology	Communist Green Left-wing Right-wing Ethnic violence Palestinian Zionist Narcoterrorism Nationalist Religious (Christian Islamic Jewish)
Types and tactics	Agro-terrorism Aircraft hijacking Bioterrorism Car bombing Environmental destruction Nuclear Piracy Propaganda of the deed Proxy bomb Suicide attack Palestinian
State involvement	State terrorism State-sponsored terrorism
Organisation	Clandestine cell system Financing Front Lone wolf Training camp
Historical	Red Terror Reign of Terror White Terror
Lists	Charities accused of ties to terrorism Designated terrorist organizations Incidents Islamic terrorist attacks
Memorials and museums	House of Terror Topography of Terror Victims of Acts of Terror Memorial
By country	Iran Sponsored Israel Sponsored Kuwait Sponsored Libya Sponsored Pakistan Sponsored Palestine Qatar Sponsored Russia Soviet Union Sri Lanka United States Sponsored Venezuela Sponsored