[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E453]]
    URGING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO ADD HEZBOLLAH TO THE EU'S LIST OF 
                        TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 14, 2005

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 101, a resolution urging the European Union to add Hezbollah 
to the European Union's list of terrorist organizations.
  Over the past two decades, Hezbollah has been synonymous with terror, 
suicide bombings and kidnappings. This Iran-backed, Lebanese-based 
terrorist group serves as an umbrella organization of radical Islamic 
Shiite groups and entities. Hezbollah, which the U.S. government 
estimates consists of several thousand militants, has balked at recent 
U.N. Security Council resolutions requiring it to disarm. This 
terrorist group is responsible for nearly 200 attacks since 1982 that 
have killed more than 800 people. Its political rhetoric includes calls 
for the destruction of the State of Israel. Most recently, both Israeli 
and Palestinian officials noted an alarming increase in Hezbollah 
support for terrorism in the Palestinian territories. The organization 
enjoys funding of $10 million to $20 million monthly from Iran, a 
country that continues to seek a nuclear weapon.
  U.S. intelligence has shown that Hezbollah cells operate in Europe, 
Africa, South America, and North America. Hezbollah's reported 
involvement in the 1983 suicide bombing attack that killed 241 United 
States Marines in Beirut and other acts of atrocities begs its 
inclusion to the European Union's list of terrorist organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, a critical part of the war on terror is identifying 
terrorist threats and the organizations and people who carry out acts 
of atrocity. I am encouraged by the European Union Parliament's passing 
of a resolution urging the European Union leadership and the member 
governments to list Hezbollah as a terrorist entity. I applaud this 
step and hope that it leads to the inclusion of Hezbollah on the 
European Union's list of terrorist organizations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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