EU Blacklists Hezbollah

Monday 22nd July 2013, the European Union takes the unanimous decision to proscribe the military wing of Hezbollah. Britain and the Netherlands had been pressing EU partners to act against Hezbollah following the terror attacks against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria in July 2012.

Israel, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Britain had previously added Hezbollah to their lists of designated terrorist groups.

The EU’s decision is symbolic and largely superficial but opens debate on Hezbollah’s role in Lebanon, Syria and across the Middle East.

An AFI Spokesperson said:

The European Union has finally acted to  proscribe the military wing of Hezbollah. Although this is a welcome development, the practical impact will be marginal.

The political wing, assuming one accepts the description of Hezbollah as being so sub-divided, does not fall within the bounds of this sanction and will continue to receive funds and political legitimacy from within some European states.

Many will view the timing of this decision to be rather cynical. The European Union did not act following the terrorist attacks against Israeli tourists in Bulgaria. The EU’s disinclination appears to have been diminished by Hezbollah’s significant military support for Bashar al-Asad.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the news and praised EU leaders for the decision. He pointed out that Hezbollah “has imposed terrorist rule on wide sections of Lebanon, has converted them into an Iranian protectorate and is stockpiling tens of thousands of rockets”, a continuing threat to Israeli security.