Israel Urges EU to Follow Britain in Full Blacklisting of Hezbollah

Israel lauded Britain’s decision on Monday to ban Hezbollah and urged the European Union to likewise class the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite militia and political movement in its entirety as a terrorist organization.

“All who truly wish to combat terror must reject the fake distinction between ‘military’ & ‘political’ wings,” Israeli Security Minister Gilad Erdan said in a tweet thanking his British counterpart, Sajid Javid. “Now is the time for the EU to follow suit!”

Acting Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said he will urge U.N. agencies to adopt a similar policy toward Hezbollah in his meeting with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York next week.

There is no difference between Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the “terrorists carrying out his objectives or those carrying out Iran’s mission against Israel and other Arab states in the region,” Katz was quoted by The Times of Israel as saying on Monday.