Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Ireland’s Minister for Defense: No Reason to Distinguish Between Political, Military Arms of Hezbollah
Error: Contact form not found.
by Zach Pontz
Ireland's Minister for Defense Alan Shatter. Photo: Wikipedia
It is not a “valid distinction” to differentiate between Hezbollah’s military and political wings, Alan Shatter, Ireland’s minister for defense, justice and equality, told the Lebanese website The Daily Star.
“I think Hezbollah is a single organization,” he continued, adding: “it doesn’t reflect … the structure of the IRA [Irish Republican Army] where the IRA, or Provisional IRA, was a military wing and Sinn Fein was a political wing.”
The minister was commenting on the emerging European Union debate over whether Hezbollah should be officially designated a terrorist organization following an investigation by Bulgarian authorities into a suicide bombing in that country last summer that pointed the finger of culpability at the Lebanese Shiite organization.
“Whether Hezbollah would be named a terrorist organization or not from a European perspective is a matter that remains to be considered by European justice ministers,” Shatter said.
Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Council, hosted a meeting of EU justice ministers in January during which Bulgaria briefed attendees on the progress of this investigation, Shatter added.
While condemning the attack, Shatter highlighted that it is “important … that the Bulgarian authorities complete their investigation, and that we don’t jump to conclusions.”
Shatter was in Lebanon on the first leg of a trip to the region during which he will be briefed by Lebanese, Israeli and Palestinian Arab officials.
The only EU member state that currently lists Hezbollah as a terrorist group is the Netherlands, while the United Kingdom distinguishes between Hezbollah’s political and military wings, proscribing the latter as a terrorist organization.
