US voices out anger at Hezbollah’s activities in Germany

Shaimaa Hefzy

The Lebanese Hezbollah militia is stirring up debate yet again, after the US asked Germany to ban it against the background of its links to Iran.

US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell wrote in an article in the German daily Die Welt that Germany can ban the Lebanese paramilitary group, regardless of views of the European Union on the issue.

If it does this, he added, Germany would be following in the footsteps of the Netherlands and the UK which completely banned Hezbollah.

He said the ban would not only rein in Hezbollah and prevent its backers from raising funds in Germany, but also send a clear message that Berlin would not tolerate violence, terrorism and anti-Semitism.

However, some Germany officials viewed Grenell’s statements as interference in German internal affairs.

Germany, they said, ban the military arm of Hezbollah, but like the rest of the world, it allows the political arm of the group to operate in it.

Two months ago, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that he hoped Germany would follow in the footsteps of the UK by banning Hezbollah.

Justification

The European Union included the military arm of Hezbollah in its terrorism list in 2013. The UK labeled Hezbollah a terrorist organization in March this year. Canada, the Netherlands and the US did the same.

Nonetheless, the German government views Hezbollah as an effective element in the political life in Lebanon, given the fact that it is represented in the Lebanese parliament.

Ambassador Grenell, however, faults Germany in doing this. He said the Netherlands and the US enjoy strong relations with Lebanon.

Lebanon, he said, also gets financial support from the US. He added that the US cannot at the same time deviate from its basic principles, which is why it gives Hezbollah the tag it deserves, namely this of a “terrorist organization”.