PUBLIC LAW 104-107—FEB. 12, 1996 110 STAT. 727 any similar provision of law, shall remain available for obligation through September 30, 1997. ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUND ASSISTANCE FOR ISRAEL SEC. 517. The Congress finds that progress on the peace process in the Middle East is vitally important to United States security interests in the region. The Congress recognizes that, in fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty of Peace Between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel, done at Washington on March 26, 1979, Israel incurred severe economic burdens. Furthermore, the Congress recognizes that an economically and militarily secure Israel serves the security interests of the United States, for a secure Israel is an Israel which has the incentive and confidence to continue pursuing the peace process. Therefore, the Congress declares that, subject to the availability of appropriations, it is the policy and the intention of the United States that the funds provided in annual appropriations for the Economic Support Fund which are allocated to Israel shall not be less than the annual debt repayment (interest and principal) from Israel to the United States Government in recognition that such a principle serves United States interests in the region. PROHIBITION ON FUNDING FOR ABORTIONS AND INVOLUNTARY STERILIZATION SEC. 518. None of the funds made available to carry out part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, may be used to pay for the performance of abortions as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions. None of the funds made available to carry out part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, may be used to pay for the performance of involuntary sterilization as a method of family planning or to coerce or provide any financial incentive to any person to undergo sterilizations. None of the funds made available to carry out part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, may be used to pay for any biomedical research which relates in whole or in part, to methods of, or the performance of, abortions or involuntary sterilization as a means of family planning. None of the funds made available to carry out part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, may be obligated or expended for any country or organization if the President certifies that the use of these funds by any such country or organization would violate any of the above provisions related to abortions and involuntary sterilizations: Provided, That none of the funds made available under this Act may be used to lobby for or against abortion. AUTHORIZATION OF POPULATION PLANNING SEC. 518A. Notwithstanding section 526 of this Act, none of the funds made available in this Act for population planning activities or other population assistance pursuant to section 104(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act or any other provision of law, or funds made available in title IV of this Act as a contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) may be obligated or expended prior to July 1, 1996, unless such funding is expressly authorized by law: Provided, That if such funds are not authorized by law prior to July 1, 1996, funds appropriated in title II of
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