Netanyahu calls on all European countries to follow UK in labelling Hezbollah a terror group
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on all European countries to follow the United Kingdom and completely proscribe the Hezbollah terror organization.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv. Credit: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO
Speaking on Sunday at the beginning of the Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu related to Britain’s decision to completely ban Hezbollah and to define both its political and military wings a terrorist organization.
“This is an important decision because Hezbollah is a terrorist organization in its own right, and it is also the main terrorist arm of Iran,” he explained, calling on other countries, “first of all in Europe but also around the world, to join this important move by Britain.”
The UK’s Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced the decision last week, with the support of Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Until now, the British Government distinguished between Hezbollah’s military wing, which was banned, and its political wing, which was not.
Being a member or inviting support for Hezbollah is now a criminal offense in the UK, carrying a sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Hezbollah’s External Security Organization and its military wing including the Jihad Council were already proscribed in 2001 and 2008 respectively.
Hezbollah was established in 1985 during the Lebanese civil war and is committed to the destruction of the State of Israel. It is funded and supported by Iran.
In its decision, the UK noted that Hezbollah “continues to amass weapons in direct contravention of UN Security Council Resolutions, putting the security of the region at risk. Its involvement in the Syrian war since 2012 continues to prolong the conflict and the regime’s brutal and violent repression of the Syrian people.”
The US, Canada, the Arab League and other countries have designated Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization.
Australia is considering its position.
Peter Wertheim, Co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Said: “Hezbollah is prosecuting a war of annihilation not only against the State of Israel but against Jewish communities everywhere. Hezbollah’s official television station, Al-Manar TV, disseminates antisemitic conspiracy theories, glorification of terrorism and incitement to violence. Hossam Yaakoub, a Hezbollah member arrested in Cyprus in 2012, told Cypriot Police: ‘I was just collecting information about the Jews. This is what my organisation is doing, everywhere in the world.’
Australia should list Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organisation and cease all direct contacts with it.”
