Taking On Hezbollah Terror
Hezbollah is a Shi’a Islamist terrorist group based in Lebanon and sponsored by Iran. It has carried out attacks throughout the world that have killed thousands—Americans, Europeans, Israelis, and others. It established a significant institutions of welfare, education, healthcare and businesses in three main areas in Lebanon, all Shiite- southern Lebanon, Dahieh and the Bekaa Valley. The goal is to create a dependency of the locals on Hezbollah’s infrastructure and use the civilian areas for their terrorist needs.
Hezbollah established in 1993 a Palestinian Branch. The Branch belongs to their Martyrs Foundation, which is a branch of the Iranian Martyrs Foundation. The goal of Hezbollah is to support Palestinian Shaheeds. The branch is subordinate to Hezbollah’s political council, and it’s run from Lebanon, with representations in Gaza, Syria and perhaps elsewhere.The funds are transferred from Iran to Lebanon, and from Lebanon to the Palestinian families through a charity association, moneychangers as well as bank transfers. The foundation supports more than 7000 Palestinian families, the vast majority are from Gaza.
The Palestinian-Iranian Friendship Association (SAFA) is a Palestinian Institution intended for strengthening relations between the two parties.The head of the association is Dr. Mohammad al-Bhisi.
With a stockpile of more than 150,000 rockets and missiles capable of hitting Israel, Hezbollah foments instability throughout Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, and helps prop up Syrian dictator and accused war criminal Bashar al-Assad. The terror group also participates in criminal narco- and weapons-trafficking, money laundering, and other illegal activities in European cities. On August 4, 2021, three rockets were fired from Lebanon towards the northern city, Kiryat Shmona. One rocket fell short but others did hit Israeli soil. It was the first rockets attack since the war in 2006. In return, Israel targeted 112 Hezbollah and Lebanese government facilities. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the rocket attack.
AJC advocacy has already dealt a blow to Hezbollah around the globe. In 2016, AJC worked tirelessly with the U.S. Congress to ensure passage of the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act, which levies sanctions on financial institutions that help the group launder money. The law also provides for monitoring Hezbollah’s TV station, al-Manar, and mandates action against satellite, broadcast, Internet, or other providers that work with al-Manar.
In March 2016, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League officially designated the entirety of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, joining the United States, Canada, Israel, and the Netherlands in making that determination.
In 2013, after sustained effort on the part of AJC, the European Union (EU) designated the so-called “military wing” of Hezbollah as a terrorist group—making a false distinction between the group’s “political” and "military” wings. While the EU’s partial designation was welcome, designating all of Hezbollah would empower European governments to take stronger steps to keep it from organizing and fundraising within EU borders. This remains a key advocacy priority for AJC, especially for our offices in Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Rome, and Warsaw.
