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Iran Responds to Europe's Blacklisting of Hizbullah

(Institute for Contemporary Affairs-Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Shimon Shapira and Michael Segall - The EU decision to include Hizbullah's military wing on its blacklist of terror groups ignores the basic fact that Hizbullah is a unitary, hierarchical organization. As Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem said in October 2012: "We don't have a military wing and a political one." The EU Ambassador to Lebanon, Angelina Eichhorst, immediately reassured Hizbullah officials in Lebanon that the decision will not affect relations with the group's "civilian wing." She said after meeting with a Hizbullah minister in the Lebanese government that EU "financial assistance will continue," and that Hizbullah has the right to challenge the EU decision before European courts - adding: "We will reevaluate our decision every six months." Iran's reaction shows that it views the Syrian-Lebanese front as an important part of its national-security strategy and regional aspirations. In Iran's view, it is in this arena that the key battle over the new Middle Eastern order is being waged. IDF Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Dr. Shimon Shapira is a senior research associate at the Jerusalem Center, where Lt.-Col. (ret.) Michael Segall is a senior analyst.
2013-07-31 00:00:00
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