Australia today (Wednesday) declared all arms of Hezbollah a terrorist organization, after 2003, when only the military arm of the organization was included in the list. The announcement comes after Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with the Australian Prime Minister on the sidelines of the Glasgow Climate Conference.
The Morrison Government intends to list the entirety of Hizballah and racist neo-Nazi group The Base as terrorist organisations under the criminal code. I will continue to take strong action to keep Australians safe from terrorism. pic.twitter.com/P1BW59WKzp
— Karen Andrews MP (@karenandrewsmp) November 24, 2021
Australia’s Home Secretary Karen Andrews said: “Iran-backed Shiite group continues to threaten terrorist attacks and provide support to terrorist organizations, and poses a real threat to Australia. The government has zero tolerance for violence, and no religious or ideological reason that can justify killing innocent people “. To date, Australia has declared 23 organizations terrorist organizations, including ISIS, Boko Haram and Abu Saif.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett thanked the Australian Prime Minister on his Twitter account, writing: “We will continue to act in every way possible against terrorism.”
I thank the Government of Australia and my friend @ScottMorrisonMP The intention is to define Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
We will continue to act in every way possible against terrorism, including in the international arena. pic.twitter.com/iIN4isUeha
– Naftali Bennett בנט (ftnaftalibennett) November 24, 2021
Deputy Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yair Lapid also welcomed the decision and wrote: “Australia is a close friend of Israel also in the fight against global terrorism.”
I thank the Government of Australia for the decision that Hezbollah, in all its arms, is a terrorist organization. Australia is also a close friend of Israel in the fight against global terrorism. The Foreign Ministry is leading, in close cooperation with the Israeli security community, an international campaign to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization. Https://t.co/WXNzA98yic
– Yair Lapid???? (@yairlapid) November 24, 2021
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