Eichhorst: Blacklisting Hizbullah's Military Wing Doesn't Justify Israeli Move against Lebanon
EU ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst stressed on Friday that the European Union's decision to blacklist Hizbullah's military wing doesn't justify any Israeli action against Lebanon.
“It's a decision that denounces terrorism acts carried out in EU countries,” Eichhorst said in comments published in As Safir newspaper in response to Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech.
Nasrallah said on Wednesday during an iftar banquet organized by the Women's Committee of the Islamic Resistance Support Association that the EU's decision means it would share responsibility for any Israeli attack against Lebanon or the party.
“The EU isn't targeting the Shiite sect. We will not halt granting visas to people and Hizbullah's participation in any upcoming cabinet will not be rejected,” the EU ambassador told the newspaper.
“The decision taken unanimously by the 28 EU countries includes a strong message that we reject terrorism and denounce any attacks on European territories.”
Asked about the nature of Hizbullah's military wing, Eichhorst pointed out that the party has a “Jihadist Council” and “Foreign Security Committee,” which are responsible for the military operations of Hizbullah.
“We differentiate between terrorism and any country's right to defend itself against occupation,” the diplomat noted.
Eichhorst told As Safir that Hizbullah has the right to challenge the decision before European courts, saying: “We will reevaluate our decision every six months.”
She stressed that the decision comes in light of investigations over an attack that targeted Israelis at the Black Sea airport of Burgas in Bulgaria.
Israel blamed Iran and its Lebanese "terrorist proxy" Hizbullah for the bombing, the deadliest attack on Israelis abroad since 2004 and the first in a EU member state.
Asked if the EU's decision concerning Hizbullah was linked to an earlier decision to ban its 28 members from dealing with Jewish settlements to push forward peace efforts, Eichhorst said: “We are not here to please anyone.”
It took Bulgaria six months to make what it called a "justified conclusion" that Hizbullah was behind the attack.
More than a year on, the investigation is still bogged down by lengthy procedures for collecting witness testimony from Israel and legal assistance reports from abroad.
“There is so far compelling evidence that proves that Hizbullah's military wing is involved in Burgas bombing,” Eichhorst said.
The EU official said that the EU seeks to press Lebanese parties to resume the national dialogue and maintain the country's sovereignty and independence.
“We will carry on with our previous policies with the Lebanese,” she stated.
On the process of cabinet formation, Eichhorst stressed that the EU backs any government that achieves Lebanon's best interest.
“We will not reject any cabinet that Hizbullah participates in,” the diplomat said.
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