ACCESSION NUMBER:00000 FILE ID:95092002.NNE DATE:09/20/95 TITLE:20-09-95 HOUSE DEBATES PLO COMPLIANCE WITH PEACE ACCORDS TEXT: (Some seek to impose conditions on U.S. assistance) (550) By Rick Marshall USIA Staff Writer Washington -- The House Foreign Relations Committee began debate September 20 on whether the U.S. should consider curtailing assistance to the Palestinian Authority because of its perceived failure to live up to the commitments the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) undertook with the Oslo Accords. In his opening statement Committee Chairman Benjamin Gilman (Republican, New York) criticized PLO chairman Yasir Arafat for continuing to support the destruction of the state of Israel in remarks to Arab audiences. He also pointed to "serious questions concerning the PLO's assets, its ability to effectively utilize that aid, and assurances that aid funds will in fact go to assist people in the self-rule areas, and not be siphoned off for other purposes." Democrats Tom Lantos (California) and Sam Gejedensen (Connecticut) took a more positive view of the peace process and defended the Clinton Administration's efforts to advance it despite the difficulties which have arisen. The debate was significant because it reflects a growing mood in Congress that some modifications to the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act (MEPFA) may be necessary, according to well-placed committee sources. MEPFA, which was passed in October 1993, is the basic law permitting U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority. It has been surviving on a series of short-term extensions which will expire at the end of September. There is growing reluctance in the Congress to extend MEPFA beyond this month, however. At the same time there is considerable interest in Congress about the complaints which are being leveled against the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat. The extent to which assistance to the Palestinians may be curtailed or conditioned as a result, is far from certain. What is clear is that a number of new bills have been submitted in the House and the Senate recently which its sponsors claim would force Palestinian compliance with their Oslo Accord commitments or limit U.S. assistance as a consequence. Those criticizing Palestinian actions were Republicans Dan Burton (Indiana) and Jim Saxton (New Jersey) as well as Democrats Eliot Engel (New York) and Peter Deutsch (Florida). Burton and Engel are House Foreign Relations Committee members. Burton focused on the possibility that U.S. troops might be stationed on the Golan Heights as part of a peace agreement between Israel and Syria. Putting U.S. forces there, he said, would be "a terrible mistake." Burton also referred to reports attributed to British intelligence which say the Palestinian Liberation Organization has more than $8,000 million dollars in Swiss bank accounts. A subsequent committee witness, Joe Kelley of the General Accounting Office, said that his office had spoken with the British intelligence officer who had made the claim, but that the officer had not furnished any information to support it. Lantos, who reminded the committee that he was the only survivor of the Holocaust ever elected to the Congress, said that he found it "inconceivable" that anyone would oppose the peace process. Relinquishing the Gaza Strip has been of "enormous benefit" to Israel, as have the business contacts which have flowed from Israel's peace with its neighbors. "The Clinton Administration is pursuing the right policy," Lantos said, adding that he gave the administration his "full and unqualified support." NNNN