Peres Urges EU to Blacklist Hizbullah, Describes Decision as 'Hypocrisy'
Israeli President Shimon Peres considered that attempts to differentiate between Hizbullah's military wing and political party is plain “hypocrisy,” calling on the European Union to place Hizbullah as a whole on the list of terrorist organizations.
Peres wondered in an interview with al-Hurra TV on Thursday night if Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallh is a politician or a military man.
“He (Nasrallah) sent his army to fight alongside (Syrian President Bashar) Assad's forces and kill more Syrians,” the Israeli president said.
The Council of the European Union and the European Commission added on Thursday Hizbullah's military wing officially to the EU's list of entities, groups and persons involved in terrorist acts, as agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council on July 22.
Those on the list are targeted with an asset freeze in the EU. In addition, member states have committed to enhanced police and judicial cooperation in related inquiries and proceedings, it announced in a statement.
The decision brings the number of groups and entities subject to these restrictions to 26, while 11 persons remain on the list.
Peres also blamed Nasrallah for sending its members to Syria without the permission of the Lebanese government.
Hizbullah “violated international laws and committed actions in Syria, which constitute war crimes.”
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the EU's Foreign Affairs Council decision, saying the party has imposed a "terrorist" rule on large parts of Lebanon.
Hizbullah "has imposed terrorist rule on wide sections of Lebanon, has converted them into an Iranian protectorate and is stockpiling tens of thousands of rockets there."
"These have been placed in the heart of civilian populations and are designed to be fired at population centers in Israel," he said.
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