Posted on 08/08/2003 12:15:12 PM PDT by yonif
CRAWFORD, Texas - U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday allowed the Palestinian Authority to maintain an office in Washington by waiving for another six months a law that would require it to be closed.
The law, which mandates the "downgrade in status of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) office in the United States," has been waived every six months since its passage.
"I hereby determine that it is in the national security interest of the United States to waive that sanction," Bush said in a written memorandum released in Crawford, Texas where he is spending a month-long working vacation.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin said Thursday that the cease-fire declared by Palestinian militant groups was not enough and that the Palestinian Authority must make a determined effort against terror organizations.
"We need to see a more concerted effort against the capacity for terrorist activity on the Palestinian side," Powell said. "It's not enough just to have a cease-fire."
Powell, however, noted that progress has been made in reducing attacks against Israelis.
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