Bush puts conditions on PLO relations

? President Bush put new anti-terrorism conditions Tuesday on a routine memorandum permitting the Palestine Liberation Organization to maintain an official presence in Washington.

Bush has determined that it is in the United States’ “national security interest” to continue relations with the PLO. The routine waiver of a 1987 anti-terrorism law essentially certifies that the PLO is not a terrorist organization.

But this time, the document notifying Congress of the decision includes new language saying that renewal of the PLO’s right to maintain a U.S. office is not automatic. It says determinations about relations with Palestinian authorities will take into account PLO compliance with its own publicly stated commitments and with Bush’s demands on April 4 for an immediate cease-fire, immediate resumption of security cooperation with Israel against terrorism and an immediate order to crack down on terrorist networks.