The government of Paraguay announced on Monday that it has designated Hezbollah and Hamas as terrorist organisations in a move praised by Israeli officials.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz lauded President Mario Abdo Benítez’s administration for what he described as the “struggle against Iranian-sponsored” terrorism.
“This decision contributes to the international struggle against Iranian-sponsored Hamas and Hezbollah terror,” Katz said.
“I call on other states to join Paraguay and recognise these groups as terrorist organisations. We will continue to work to see that these organisations are recognised as terrorist groups everywhere. The entire world must unite to fight against the terror that Iran and its proxies are spreading.”
President Mario Abdo Benitez made the declaration in an official document, signed on August 9, saying it was aimed at supporting the fight against international terrorism. He also recognised the Islamic State and al-Qaeda as global terror organisations.
El Presidente de la República @MaritoAbdo, resolvió a través del Decreto Nº 2.307 reconocer la designación como organización terrorista global a ISIS y Al Qaeda y como organización terrorista internacional a Hamás y Hezbollah. Lo anunció el ministro de @minteriorpy pic.twitter.com/9Up3rw8VFk
— Presidencia Paraguay (@PresidenciaPy) August 19, 2019
This is a positive move from Paraguay but appears to be in line with United Nations policy rather than in support of Israel and this is an important distinction.
Paraguay was one of the few countries to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2017 following the US decision. However, when Benitez was elected Paraguay’s president in 2018 he reversed this decision and moved the countries embassy back to Tel Aviv. This prompted Israel to respond by shuttering its own embassy in Paraguay’s capital Asunction. The relationship between the two countries remains strained.
Paraguay and Argentina are the only Latin American countries to have designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization, with the latter holding the group responsible for the bombing of a Jewish community centre that killed 85 people in 1994.
Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorist proxies of Iran
Christians United for Israel UK is calling upon the British government to end its involvement in the Iran Nuclear Deal as the Iranian regime is funding terrorist groups such as these and using funds from the Iran Deal to do so.
The petition, launched as part of CUFI’s on-going Operation Mordecai campaign, accuses Iran of failing to show any evidence of reform since the deal was made in 2015 and says the Join Plan of Action (JCPOA) provides no credible solution to stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
It follows the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirming that Iran has now exceeded the agreed limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium. The regime has also vowed to continue enrichment to “any amount we want” – moving Iran closer to a nuclear weapon. The Iranian regime has also captured a British ship and is holding its crew hostage whilst seeking further British vessels to capture.
CUFI UK Director, Des Starritt, says “The United Kingdom is ‘urgently considering next steps’ but remains one of five countries still part of the deal after the US withdrew and imposed new sanctions.”
“The UK must choose to stop supporting the aggressive terrorist funding Iranian regime and make a stand in solidarity with our closest allies – Israel and the United States.”
Read the petition in full and add your name
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