Canberra – Australia declared Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. It reasoned that there is a perceived threat from Lebanon based Hezbollah, which is also affiliated with Iran. Australia has now included Hezbollah’s political and social wings in the terrorist list. Whereas, earlier, only the armed groups were designated as terrorist organisations.
Internal Security Minister of Australia Karen Andrews justified the action against Hezbollah by stating that Hezbollah, based out of Lebanon, has been consistently inciting terrorist attacks and supporting terrorist organisations. He expressed that Australia is fully aware of the possibility of many Lebanese nationals entering their country due to relaxing norms imposed during the Covid pandemic.
This decision will impose a ban on joining the Hezbollah affiliated organisations in Australia. At the same time, action will be taken against collecting funds for organisations linked to Hezbollah. Hundreds of Lebanese people had fled to Australia due to the civil war raging in Lebanon between 1976 and 1981. There are more than 225,000 people of Lebanese origin and they are concentrated in the Sydney and Melbourne regions.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had met Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the sidelines of the meeting on climate change, convened by the United Nations. At this time, the Israeli Prime Minister had appealed for a blanket ban on Hezbollah. The Israeli Prime Minister thanked Australia following the decision taken on Wednesday. Bennett expressed hope that the cooperation between Israel and Australia against terrorism will continue in the future.
Hezbollah criticised that Australia has taken this decision blindly, only to appease Israel. Before this, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates had already imposed a blanket ban on Hezbollah.
Related posts:
China should respect Australian sovereignty, warns Australian Prime Minister
Fierce attacks by Israeli military on Gaza Strip; two Palestinians killed in action against protestors
Australia set to take China on, in the Rare Earth mineral sector, Chinese exports in that sector decline by 18%
The extent of anti-government protests in Lebanon magnify, Hezbollah linked groups continue attacks on the protestors
The United States rebukes China after the cyberattack in Australia
Terrorist groups from Gaza threaten Israel with war
Chinese real estate company tries to usurp Australia’s Keswick Island
CCP members have infiltrated big companies, banks, universities as also embassies of US, UK, Australia
