MEDIA RELEASES

AIJAC urges Australia to join Germany in banning Hezbollah

May 1, 2020 | AIJAC

07 14 Hezbollah 01

Media Release

 

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) welcomes the German government’s decision to join a growing list of countries that proscribe the entirety of Hezbollah as a terrorist group, and again urges the Australian government to seriously reconsider its stance on the organisation.

AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein explained, “Despite a number of our closest allies, including the US, the UK, Canada and now Germany banning the entirety of Hezbollah, the Australian government proscribes only its ‘External Security Organisation’. Even though many members of the Hezbollah leadership, from Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah down, have denied the organisation is divided into wings, our government also continues to maintain this illusory distinction.

“While focussing mainly in the Middle East, Hezbollah is responsible for murderous terrorist attacks and plots all over the world, including many countries in Europe, in South America, and in Southeast Asia. There are also credible reports of a Hezbollah presence in Australia, as well as allegations that Hezbollah has been involved in drug trafficking here. It is at least as dangerous as other Islamist groups  which we do, rightly, proscribe, and should be treated just as seriously as they are.”

“In February 2020, Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton flagged that he would undertake a review into Australia’s policy on Hezbollah. We continue to await the outcome of that important and timely review, and urge the Minister to urgently consider its recommendations,” Dr Rubenstein concluded.

For additional information, contact AIJAC on (03)-9681-6660.

RELATED ARTICLES

RECENT POSTS

Gazans collect aid packages from a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution site (Image: Screenshot)

AIJAC Fast Facts: New Gaza aid distribution system begins

Screenshot 2025 05 30 At 11.22.09 AM

Albanese urged to visit Israel instead of ‘throwing mud’ over Gaza war: Joel Burnie on Sky News

Hamas' October 7 attack produced scenes that Israelis can never forget (Image: Hamas bodycam)

The hypocrisy of international outrage

“Palestine” may have a flag, but it does not currently meet the criteria for statehood. Prematurely recognising it will not bring the day it does closer (Image: Shutterstock)

Nine reasons premature recognition would be bad for Palestine

The raw anti-Israel hate on Western streets is a symptom of a deeper social malaise, writes Murray (Image: Shutterstock)

Biblio File: Israel and the pathologies of the West

SORT BY TOPICS