Report: U.S. Bill to Call for Europe to Sanction Hizbullah
U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman is expected to introduce a resolution that would urge the European Union to label Hizbullah a terrorist organization, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The draft resolution by the Connecticut Independent calls on European countries as well as the EU to designate Hizbullah as a terrorist group and asks the Obama administration to provide information about the party to its European allies, the newspaper said.
The resolution, which has yet to be formally introduced, asks that sanctions be leveled against Hizbullah for “providing material support to (President) Bashar Assad’s ongoing campaign of violent repression against the people of Syria.”
According to the resolution, the party would “no longer be able to fundraise, recruit, finance, provide logistical support, train or propagandize throughout Europe” if the European governments and the EU designate Hizbullah as a terrorist organization.
John Brennan, the White House's top counterterrorism adviser, said in October that the actions of European countries against Hizbullah had not been sufficient and that they needed to brand the party a terrorist group.
“Failure to designate Hizbullah as a terrorist organization makes it harder to defend our countries and protect our citizens,” The Jerusalem Post quoted him as saying during a speech in Ireland.
“Without international recognition of and action against Hizbullah’s terrorism, the group will continue to operate with impunity and it will be able to raise funds that enable its terrorist activity,” he said.
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