German Jewish leaders praise country for designating Hezbollah a terror group
Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, called the move 'an extremely important and meaningful step in the fight against international terrorism'
Jewish community leaders in Germany are praising the country’s designation of both the political and military wings of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.
The announcement of a ban on all Hezbollah activities in Germany came Thursday from Interior Minister Horst Seehofer and was followed immediately by a German police raid on four Shiite Islamic groups connected with Hezbollah.
Also Thursday, the office of the Berlin Senator of the Interior, Andreas Geisel, announced on Twitter that the annual Al-Quds march, scheduled for mid-May and which Hezbollah affiliates often attend, would be canceled this year, the Jerusalem Post reported.
“Hezbollah openly calls for the violent elimination of the State of Israel and questions the right of the State of Israel to exist,” Seehofer said.
Hezbollah is “fundamentally against the concept of international understanding, regardless of whether it presents itself as a political, social or military structure,” he added.
On Friday, the Central Council of Jews in Germany said the move was “overdue.”
“Germany is no longer allowed to offer a haven to supporters of an Islamist organisation that – driven by a deep hatred of Jews – incites people to violence and finances terror,”said Josef Schuster, the council president.
Schuster also urged Germany to push for a total European Union ban on the group. In 2013, the EU designated Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political wing.
In a tweet, Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, called the move “an extremely important and meaningful step in the fight against international terrorism.”
Federal Minister of Interior Horst #Seehofer today banned all activities by the Shiite terrorist organization #Hezbollah in #Germany. We welcome this extremely significant and meaningful step by Germany in combatting international terror.
https://t.co/K60JpZeWNZ— Jeremy Issacharoff (@JIssacharoff) April 30, 2020
Germany’s intelligence agency estimates that there are as many as 1,050 members active in Hezbollah-related groups nationwide. The ban notes that while these individuals mostly avoid drawing attention, some “openly declare their support on websites and in social media.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
