Britain to mull outlawing Hezbollah, and not just its military wing

Labor Friends of Israel pressure authorities to recognize Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization.

By: Margot Dudkevitch

The British House of Commons is set to discuss banning the Shia Islamist terror group Hezbollah later this month, thanks to the efforts of the Labor party’s Labor Friends of Israel (LFI).

Jennifer Gerber, director of LFI, told the Jerusalem Post that Hezbollah should be considered a terror group as it seeks the destruction of Israel. She said the British government has failed to take action and ban the group in its entirety, meaning not just its military wing but also its political division.

“This debate [set for January 25] is intended to increase the pressure on them to do so without further delays or excuses,” said Gerber. An LFI statement explained, “Currently the United Kingdom’s distinction is not one that Hezbollah itself recognizes. Its deputy secretary-general Naim Qassem stated in 2009 that the same leadership that directs the parliamentary and government work also leads jihad actions in its struggle against Israel.”

The LFI went on to say this means that Hezbollah flags can be flown in the streets of Britain.

The Lebanese terrorist group has already been designated a terrorist organization by  Israel, the United, States, the Arab League, Holland and Canada. Like Britain, the European Union has only designated Hezbollah’s military wing a terrorist entity without referring to its political division. The White House on Friday urged all countries to outlaw Hezbollah in its entirety.