Media Releases

“Following the UK government’s decision to ban Hezbollah in its entirety, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) urges Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs to take a close look at Britain’s announcement and urgently review Australia’s own terrorism listing for Hezbollah.

“Australia’s current limited terrorist listing of Hezbollah’s ‘External Security Organisation’ is ineffective and insufficient, as the Government’s own intelligence committee reported in 2018.

“For years, AIJAC has called on the Australian Government to extend its listing to the entirety of Hezbollah. Hezbollah leaders are very open that the group does not operate through separate ‘wings’, so treating the ‘political’ and ‘military’ wings of the organisation differently is not only making a distinction without a difference, but simply gives Hezbollah the means to evade law enforcement and financial sanctions.

“Many of our key allies, including the US, France, Japan, Canada, Israel and the Netherlands, have long recognised this, and now that Britain is also following suit, Australia’s position on Hezbollah appears increasingly inadequate.

“It remains worrying that at present Australians can legally send money to much of Hezbollah, fly Hezbollah flags on Australian streets and openly espouse support for the group.”

Dr. Colin Rubenstein AM
Executive Director
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC)