Manama: Saudi Arabia has joined Bahrain in welcoming a move by the United Kingdom to blanket ban membership of, or support for, Hezbollah, adding the political wing to the group’s military wing banned in 2008.
A spokesperson for the Presidency of the State Security said that “Saudi Arabia affirms that UK decision is an important step in the efforts to combat terrorism and its financing at the regional and international levels.
Hezbollah represents real dangers and clear threats to international peace and security, the spokesperson added.
“As Saudi Arabia expresses its appreciation of the efforts of the United Kingdom in making this strategic decision that reflects its keenness to combat terrorism in all its forms and to confront extremist groups and ideologies, the kingdom urges the international community and relevant international organisations to take such a step, intensify cooperation and promote coordination to ensure the elimination of terrorism in all its forms,” the spokesperson said on Thursday evening.
“Saudi Arabia, in partnership with its allies, will continue to work to stop the destabilising influence of Hezbollah and Iran in the region in order to protect international peace and security.”
On Monday, Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the UK decision “is an important step in the effort to combat terrorism on the regional and the international levels, as Hezbollah imposes a real threat to international peace and security.”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its appreciation for the tremendous efforts and the strategic decisions of the United Kingdom that reflect its keenness to combat terrorism in all its forms and to confront terrorist groups and extremist ideologies,” the statement said.
The ministry stressed that Bahrain had a firm stance in rejecting terrorism in all its forms and called on the international community to follow the UK steps and enhance cooperation and coordination to eradicate violence, extremism and terrorism.
In 2003, Bahrain, wary of Hezbollah activities in the kingdom, became the first Arab country to blacklist the Lebanese movement as a terrorist organisation.
Bahrain said that its backing and training of radical groups against Bahrain was the main reason given for the decision to ban it.
In March 2016, the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - named Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
GCC Secretary General Abdul Lateef Al Zayani then accused Hezbollah of committing “hostile acts against GCC states, including recruiting young men to carry out terrorist attacks, smuggling weapons and explosives, stirring up sedition and incitement to chaos and violence.”
On Monday, the UK home secretary accused the Lebanese movement of destabilising the Middle East.
“Hezbollah is continuing in its attempts to destabilise the fragile situation in the Middle East - and we are no longer able to distinguish between their already banned military wing and the political party. Because of this, I have taken the decision to proscribe the group in its entirety,” Sajid Javid said.
The UK has already banned Hezbollah’s military wing, proscribing its external security in March 2001 and extending the proscription to the military apparatus in 2008, accusing the group of supporting terrorism.
The latest UK decision, to be supported by the parliament on Friday, bans Hezbollah in all its forms as a proscribed terrorist organisation.
UK authorities said they were no longer able to distinguish between the group’s military and political wings.
Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary, was quoted as saying that “it is clear the distinction between Hezbollah’s military and political wings does not exist.”
However, he added that “this does not change our ongoing commitment to Lebanon, with whom we have a broad and strong relationship.”
Once the new UK rules are endorsed this week, being a member of Hezbollah or supporting it will be a criminal offence carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
It will put Britain in line with other countries, including the US, that have banned Hezbollah.
