A file photo dated shows Lebanese protesters carrying a replica rocket and poster of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during a demonstration organized by the Palestinian and Lebanese parties
BRUSSELS: The European Union agreed yesterday to put the armed wing of Hezbollah on its terrorism blacklist, a move driven by concerns over the Lebanese militant group’s involvement in a deadly bus bombing in Bulgaria and the Syrian war.
Until now, many EU capitals had resisted lobbying from Washington and Israel to blacklist the group, warning such a move could fuel instability in Lebanon and in the Middle East.
Hezbollah functions both as a political party that is part of the Lebanese government and as a militia with thousands of guerrillas under arms.
Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said the decision was “hasty” and could lead to further sanctions against the movement that would complicate Lebanese politics.
The blacklisting opens the way for EU governments to freeze any assets Hezbollah’s military wing may have in Europe.
By limiting the listing to the armed wing, the EU was trying to avoid damaging its relations with Lebanon’s government, but the split may complicate its ability to enforce the decision in practical terms.
Hezbollah does not formally divide itself into armed and political wings, and Amal Saad Ghorayeb, who wrote a book on the group, said identifying who the ban would apply to will be difficult.
Source:Agencies
