Clinton Freezes Groups’ Assets in Anti-Terrorism Program

Eager to show resolve after the latest Middle East bombing, President Clinton announced a freeze Tuesday on the U.S. assets of 12 groups and 18 people believed linked to international terrorism and banned contributions to them.

The freeze, part of a broader anti-terrorism program, is intended to make it harder for such groups as the Islamic Resistance Movement, known as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Abu Nidal organization to raise large sums of money in this country to fund their overseas activities.

“This will essentially sever the lifeline that keeps these organizations going, we hope,” a senior Clinton Administration official said.

Clinton signed the executive order to freeze the funds Friday, but its announcement Tuesday enabled the Administration to demonstrate U.S. concern two days after Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that left 19 dead in Israel.

Government officials and experts acknowledged that such freezes have limited value because of the ease with which new funds can be transferred using new names once terrorist groups have been publicly identified.

Among the 18 individuals listed is Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, who is on trial in New York on charges of conspiring to try to blow up the Lincoln and Holland tunnels and other public facilities. Two Jewish groups, Kach and Kahane Chai, whose followers are suspected of attacks on Palestinians, are also listed.

The anti-terrorist legislative package includes proposals to give the federal government clear jurisdiction over terrorist acts here by foreign nationals and to set criminal penalties for conspiracies that take place in the United States to commit terrorist acts abroad.