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France to Name Hezbollah a Terrorist Group
The announcement came following months of pressure for the French government to make the designation, which could mean renewed effort to also add the group to the European Union's terror list.
France reportedly shared the information Wednesday with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is in the country on a diplomatic tour.
Hezbollah is already labeled a terror group by the US, Israel and the UK, but the EU has seen a holdup in making the same designation, due mostly to hesitancy on France's part, which has historic ties to Lebanon.
A faction can only be named a terror group through a unanimous vote by all EU nations. France reportedly made the decision after Hezbollah took responsibility for last summer's bus bombing in Burgas, which killed 11 Israeli tourists.
"We welcome the French government's decision to support the designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization by the European Union," said Richard Stone and Malcolm Hoenlein, chairman and executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
"This follows the declaration by the Bulgarian government of Hezbollah's responsibility for the attack in Burgas in July, 2012 and the conviction of a Hezbollah operative in Cyprus."
Placing Hezbollah on Europe's terror list could have immediate and far-reaching consequences. The group currently has vast amounts of financial networks tied up in European banks, which would be frozen if such a step was taken.
France to Name Hezbollah a Terrorist Group / Jspace News
