Jul 27, 2012 No Comments ›› Toro520
Excerpted from CNS News:
(CNSNews.com) – Israeli officials and Jewish organizations have criticized the European Union’s continuing reluctance to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, warning that at a time of escalating Iranian-sponsored international terrorism and the crisis in Syria failure to do so could impact on Mideast and global security.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week publicly reiterated his support for the Assad regime – the Lebanese Shi’ite group’s most important ally after Tehran – and accused the United States of fomenting the crisis it currently faces, prompting concerns that Hezbollah could mount fresh attacks in support of Damascus.
Israel meanwhile has accused Hezbollah and its patron, Iran, of responsibility for the July 18 bombing in Bulgaria, which cost the lives of five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian.
Neither Bulgaria nor the U.S. have yet publicly assigned blame, although House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and House Homeland Security Committee chairman Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) both told The Hill Wednesday they believe Iran and Hezbollah were involved.
The Israeli government, hopeful that an attack on European soil might strengthen its case, took up the matter this week at a meeting with the government of Cyprus – which holds the E.U.’s rotating presidency – but was rebuffed.
Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said Hezbollah was engaged in political, social and “armed wing” activities, and told her Israeli counterpart, Avigdor Lieberman, that there was “no consensus among the E.U. member states for putting Hezbollah on the terrorist list.”
“Should there be tangible evidence of Hezbollah engaging in acts of terrorism, the E.U. would consider listing the organization,” she said.
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