ExecutiveOrdersEO
DetDeterminationG.W. Bush · R

Presidential Determination

Imposition and Waiver of Sanctions Under Section 604 of the FY 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act (Public Law 107-228)

President Bush imposed a sanction downgrading the PLO office status in the U.S. for 180 days due to Palestinian non-compliance with commitments, but immediately waived that same sanction for an identical 180-day period citing national security interests. The Secretary of State was directed to transmit reports to Congress and publish the determination in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Open PDF 69 FR 40761

Impact dates

  1. Sanction imposition period expires (180 days from signing or until next section 603 report, whichever is later)

  2. Waiver period expires (180 days from signing or until next section 603 report, whichever is later)

Key directives

  • Impose sanction under section 604(a)(2) downgrading PLO office status
  • Waive same sanction for national security interest
  • Transmit initial report to appropriate Congressional committees per section 603
  • Transmit determination to Congress
  • Publish determination in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Sanction imposed and simultaneously waived
  • PLO office status downgrade technically in effect but waived
  • Secretary of State directed to transmit reports to Congress

Near term (90d)

  • 180-day waiver period continues
  • Congressional reporting obligations

Long term

  • Waiver expires at 180 days or upon next section 603 report, whichever is later
  • Potential reconsideration based on future Palestinian compliance reports

Risks & tensions

  • Circular logic: sanction imposed and waived simultaneously, creating legal ambiguity about actual PLO office status
  • Conditionality on 'next report' creates open-ended timeline uncertainty
  • National security waiver rationale not elaborated, leaving policy basis opaque
Presidential Determination: Imposition and Waiver of Sanctions Under Section 604 of the FY 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act (Public Law 107-228) · Executive Orders