Heritage expert testifies on terrorism
June 21, 2007| By Nathaniel Ward
To protect its citizens, European countries must designate Hezbollah a terrorist organization and work to curtail its activities both within Europe and overseas, Heritage expert James Phillips told members of Congress yesterday.
Hezbollah has evolved into “a global terrorist threat” and could target Europeans both in Europe and the Middle East, he said.
Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, the long-time Middle East scholar explained how Hezbollah elements have spread into Europe. The group has often targeted French and British citizens for their opposition to terrorist patron Iran.
“Hezbollah is a close ally, frequent surrogate, and terrorist subcontractor for Iran’s revolutionary Islamic regime,” Phillips continued.
Phillips also noted a “worrisome web of cooperation between Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, and Hamas support networks” in Sudan and elsewhere. And Hezbollah has worked with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades to attack Israeli civilians.
Hezbollah is also working to radicalize European Muslims. For example, the group’s al-Manar television station—which helped stir Muslim anger during the Danish cartoon controversy—was cited by German Muslims as a source of their anti-Americanism.
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation.
