Defense and national security

Executive Order 12947: Prohibiting Transactions With Terrorists Who Threaten to Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process

President: Bill Clinton

Blocked property and prohibited transactions involving named foreign terrorists threatening the Middle East peace process; a later order consolidated the program.

Status: Revoked.

Is Executive Order 12947 still in effect? No. Revoked and its national emergency terminated by EO 13886 on September 9, 2019; continuing blocks moved into EO 13224.

What does Executive Order 12947 do?

EO 12947 declared a national emergency over foreign terrorist violence threatening the Middle East peace process. It blocked property of listed organizations and persons and authorized Treasury and State to designate supporters and agents. EO 13099 added names and EO 13372 clarified the program. In 2019, EO 13886 terminated the emergency and revoked EO 12947 as amended, while carrying persons whose property remained blocked into the expanded EO 13224 counterterrorism framework.

Administration position: The order imposed economic sanctions on listed and properly designated persons. It did not make every transaction connected to the Middle East unlawful.
SignedJanuary 23, 1995
ProgramMiddle East peace-process terrorism sanctions
Major amendmentsEOs 13099 and 13372

Before and after

Before the order

Terrorism authorities existed, but this specific emergency and annexed sanctions program did not.

After the order

Covered property was blocked and transactions prohibited until the program was consolidated under EO 13224.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
TreasuryBlock covered property and administer licensesUntil 2019 consolidation
State and TreasuryMake authorized designationsUnder the order’s criteria

What happened next

EO 12947 declared the emergency.

EO 13099 expanded the annex.

EO 13372 clarified the program.

EO 13886 terminated and revoked EO 12947.