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Germany and Britain Push to List Hezbollah as a Terror Group 3 in Europe Now Oppose Hezbollah
(about 5 hours later)
BERLIN — Two of Europe’s most powerful countries, Britain and Germany, have thrown their weight behind a push for the European Union to designate the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, a move that could have far-reaching consequences for the group’s fund-raising activities on the Continent. BERLIN — Three of Europe’s most powerful countries — Britain, Germany and France — have thrown their weight behind a push for the European Union to designate the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, a move that could have far-reaching consequences for the group’s fund-raising activities on the Continent.
On Wednesday, Germany signaled an about-face in its policy toward the group, with a statement saying that Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle supported listing “at least the military wing” of the organization as a terrorist group. The announcement came just a day after Britain’s Foreign Office said it would pursue doing the same, promising to “work closely with our European partners on this issue to reach a robust, collective E.U. position.” On Wednesday, Germany signaled an about-face in its policy toward the group, with a statement saying Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle supported listing “at least the military wing” of the organization as a terrorist group. The announcement came just a day after Britain’s Foreign Office said it would pursue doing the same, promising to “work closely with our European partners on this issue to reach a robust, collective E.U. position.”
France had been undecided, but on Wednesday night Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said it would join Britain and Germany in seeking to have the “military wing” of Hezbollah put on the European Union terrorist list, according to Agence France-Presse.
Mr. Fabius was speaking in Amman, Jordan, after a meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People, a group designed to aid the rebellion against Mr. Assad.
If approved, such a move could choke off sources of funds from Hezbollah’s members and sympathizers throughout Europe, at a time when the group’s image as a liberation movement has already suffered because Hezbollah fighters are battling in Syria on behalf of the government there.If approved, such a move could choke off sources of funds from Hezbollah’s members and sympathizers throughout Europe, at a time when the group’s image as a liberation movement has already suffered because Hezbollah fighters are battling in Syria on behalf of the government there.
The United States and Israel have long urged their European allies to list the organization either in whole or in part as a terrorist group. But pressure has grown substantially since a bombing last July in Bulgaria killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver. Bulgarian officials have said Hezbollah was behind the attack, which the group denies. The United States and Israel have long urged their European allies to list the organization either in whole or in part as a terrorist group. But pressure has grown substantially since a bombing in July in Bulgaria killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver. Bulgarian officials have said Hezbollah was behind the attack, which the group denies.
Law enforcement can already pursue Hezbollah for the sorts of criminal activities associated with the group, including smuggling and counterfeiting, but even a partial blacklisting would bring added scrutiny. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency said Hezbollah had 950 members and supporters in the country in 2011, the latest figure available.Law enforcement can already pursue Hezbollah for the sorts of criminal activities associated with the group, including smuggling and counterfeiting, but even a partial blacklisting would bring added scrutiny. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency said Hezbollah had 950 members and supporters in the country in 2011, the latest figure available.
Still, many experts question the strategy of simply taking aim at Hezbollah’s military wing, arguing that it is impossible to separate the part of the organization that engages in politics and social services from the group’s large armed militia. Moreover, if only the so-called military wing is blacklisted, the group might still be able raise money in Europe under the banner of politics.Still, many experts question the strategy of simply taking aim at Hezbollah’s military wing, arguing that it is impossible to separate the part of the organization that engages in politics and social services from the group’s large armed militia. Moreover, if only the so-called military wing is blacklisted, the group might still be able raise money in Europe under the banner of politics.
“I don’t know if that makes any sense or you really can say there’s a political wing and a terrorist wing,” said Sylke Tempel, editor in chief of Internationale Politik, the journal published by the German Council on Foreign Relations. “They belong together like my left leg and my right leg.”“I don’t know if that makes any sense or you really can say there’s a political wing and a terrorist wing,” said Sylke Tempel, editor in chief of Internationale Politik, the journal published by the German Council on Foreign Relations. “They belong together like my left leg and my right leg.”
Britain expects the European Union secretive working group on terrorist designations – known as CP931 – to take up the matter on June 4, and for European foreign ministers to consider the proposal and make a decision later in the month. In addition to the Bulgaria bombing, the British government cited the conviction of a Hezbollah operative in Cyprus for planning attacks against Israelis vacationing there as grounds for the change in policy. Britain expects the European Union’s secretive working group on terrorist designations — known as CP931 — to take up the matter on June 4 and European foreign ministers to consider the proposal and make a decision later in the month. In addition to the Bulgaria bombing, the British government cited the conviction of a Hezbollah operative in Cyprus for planning attacks against Israelis vacationing there as grounds for the change in policy.
While no one was killed in Cyprus, experts said during the trial there that a conviction in a court of law would very likely carry more weight in the European Union’s bureaucratic decision-making process than accusations that the group was behind the deadly bombing in Bulgaria, no matter how well founded the intelligence. While no one was killed in Cyprus, experts said during the trial there that a conviction in a court of law would very likely carry more weight in the European Union’s bureaucratic decision-making process than accusations that the group was behind the deadly bombing in Bulgaria, no matter how well-founded the intelligence.
The shift in stance by Germany, the most populous country in the European Union and its largest economy, signals a significant change in momentum. “The German position is based on an increasingly clearer picture of the facts and on the progress achieved by Cypriot authorities in analyzing terrorist activities,” the statement said. “Minister Westerwelle hopes that the necessary consultations within the E.U. can be concluded rapidly.”The shift in stance by Germany, the most populous country in the European Union and its largest economy, signals a significant change in momentum. “The German position is based on an increasingly clearer picture of the facts and on the progress achieved by Cypriot authorities in analyzing terrorist activities,” the statement said. “Minister Westerwelle hopes that the necessary consultations within the E.U. can be concluded rapidly.”
While German backing is critical, such a move would require unanimity among the 27 nations of the European Union, which could be difficult to achieve. France has long opposed such a step and has yet to signal whether it would support the British proposal. While German backing is critical, such a move would require unanimity among the 27 nations of the European Union, which could be difficult to achieve.
In the past, France and some other countries, like Sweden, have opposed putting Hezbollah on the terrorist blacklist, fearing it could destabilize the Lebanese government. The Palestinian group Hamas is on the list, and a number of European countries now believe that listing Hamas was a mistake because of the important political role it plays in Gaza and in the Palestinian political world. European officials are banned from talking openly to Hamas officials, for example.In the past, France and some other countries, like Sweden, have opposed putting Hezbollah on the terrorist blacklist, fearing it could destabilize the Lebanese government. The Palestinian group Hamas is on the list, and a number of European countries now believe that listing Hamas was a mistake because of the important political role it plays in Gaza and in the Palestinian political world. European officials are banned from talking openly to Hamas officials, for example.
On Tuesday, after the British move, the spokesman for France’s Foreign Ministry, Philippe Lalliot, said France was undecided and would listen to the British, the Bulgarians and the Cypriots before making a decision. Given Hezbollah’s active support of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, France, which has called openly for his ouster, has been more willing to discuss a move against the group, or at least against prominent members who are thought to be engaged in terrorism. Mr. Fabius explained the changed French position by emphasizing Syria, not Bulgaria. “Given the decisions taken by Hezbollah and the fact that it has fought very hard against the Syrian population, I confirm that France will propose to inscribe the military wing of Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organizations” of the European Union, he said, according to Agence France-Presse.
“The French position is not set yet,” Mr. Lalliot said, indicating that member states will need to look at the evidence from Bulgaria and Cyprus. “The open support given to Bashar al-Assad’s regime will also be analyzed as well as the role of Hezbollah in Lebanese politics.” Having Paris support Britain and Germany will add considerable weight to their efforts.
In recent days, Hezbollah fighters have joined the Syrian military in attacking the city of Qusayr, a strategic point long held by antigovernment forces.In recent days, Hezbollah fighters have joined the Syrian military in attacking the city of Qusayr, a strategic point long held by antigovernment forces.
Neither the British nor the Germans mentioned the situation in Syria, but it clearly has affected attitudes toward Hezbollah. “Obviously they’re all sitting in Amman getting worried about Hezbollah,” said Ms. Tempel, referring to foreign ministers gathered in Jordan. Neither the British nor the Germans mentioned the situation in Syria, but it clearly has affected attitudes toward Hezbollah. “Obviously they’re all sitting in Amman getting worried about Hezbollah,” said Ms. Tempel, referring to the foreign ministers gathered in the capital of Jordan.
There was no official reaction from Jerusalem, but one Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he had not been authorized to address the matter, called it “a half-baked move.” The official objected to the notion that only a “militant wing,” and not all of Hezbollah, would be deemed terrorist, saying it was akin to “trying to get in the pool and not get wet.”There was no official reaction from Jerusalem, but one Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he had not been authorized to address the matter, called it “a half-baked move.” The official objected to the notion that only a “militant wing,” and not all of Hezbollah, would be deemed terrorist, saying it was akin to “trying to get in the pool and not get wet.”
“This is a distinction that we believe is absolutely artificial,” he said. “Hezbollah itself does not make any distinction between the political wing and the military wing, so why should anybody else? They’re not all carrying around bombs, but the whole organization is centered around terror – it’s one big military wing.” “This is a distinction that we believe is absolutely artificial,” he said. “Hezbollah itself does not make any distinction between the political wing and the military wing, so why should anybody else? They’re not all carrying around bombs, but the whole organization is centered around terror — it’s one big military wing.”

Steven Erlanger contributed reporting from Paris, Andrew Higgins from Brussels and Jodi Rudoren from Jerusalem

Steven Erlanger contributed reporting from Paris, Andrew Higgins from Brussels, and Jodi Rudoren from Jerusalem.