Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist group by Slovenia
Only Hezbollah’s “military wing” is prohibited by the EU, of which Slovenia is a member, leaving its “political wing” free to operate throughout the continent.
On Monday, Slovenia became the sixth member of the EU to completely outlaw Hezbollah.
According to Slovenia’s official news agency STA, Ljubljana deemed Hezbollah to be a “criminal and terrorist organization that represents a threat to peace and security”. “Hezbollah’s operations are linked to global terrorist and paramilitary groups, as well as organized crime.”
After receiving a report on the operations of the Lebanese Shia group from its working group on such limitations, the Slovenian government decided to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
Only Hezbollah’s “military wing” is prohibited by the EU, of which Slovenia is a member, permitting its “political wing” to function in Europe despite the terrorist organization’s lack of branching. In the last six months, nine nations—including Estonia, Latvia, and Guatemala in recent weeks—have taken steps to outright forbid Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that first and foremost harms the citizens of Lebanon itself and holds them hostage in the service of Iranian interests,” said Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, applauding Slovenia’s action.
“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that first and foremost harms the citizens of Lebanon itself and holds them hostage in the service of Iranian interests,” said Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, applauding Slovenia’s action.
The Foreign Ministry has been spearheading a significant campaign to get nations to outlaw Hezbollah, applying further pressure globally on the terrorist group and severing its financial supplies.
Ashkenazi urged more nations and the EU to completely ban Hezbollah.
“A growing trend to shed any illusions and confront the stark reality that Hezbollah is one indivisible organization, and that organization is terrorist through and through,” according to CEO of the American Jewish Committee David Harris, is reflected in Ljubljana’s decision.
Harris continued, “Letting Hezbollah’s ‘political’ wing operate on European soil has allowed for recruitment, fundraising, and the anti-Semitic poisoning of Europe, not to mention sending a European message of hesitation and indecisiveness.”
