[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 482 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 482
Urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a
terrorist organization and to increase pressure on the organization and
its members to the fullest extent possible.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 6, 2016
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Markey, Ms. Ayotte, Mr.
Coons, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Coats, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Hatch, Mr.
Wyden, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Collins, Mr. Peters, Mr. Bennet, Mr.
Menendez, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Casey, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Boozman, Mrs.
Gillibrand, and Mr. Nelson) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
June 28, 2016
Reported by Mr. Corker, without amendment
July 6, 2016
Considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a
terrorist organization and to increase pressure on the organization and
its members to the fullest extent possible.
Whereas in July 2012, a Hizballah terror attack in Bulgaria killed 5 Israeli
tourists and 1 Bulgarian;
Whereas in March 2013, a Hizballah operative in Cyprus was convicted of planning
terror attacks after admitting that he was a member of Hizballah, had
been trained in the use of weapons, and used a dual Swedish-Lebanese
passport to travel around Europe on missions as a courier and scout for
Hizballah;
Whereas although that Hizballah operative was convicted on criminal-related
charges, authorities had to drop terrorism charges against him because
Hizballah was not listed as a terrorist organization;
Whereas in July 2013, the European Union (referred to in this resolution as the
``EU'') designated Hizballah's so-called ``military wing'', but not the
organization as a whole, as a terrorist organization;
Whereas the EU designation of Hizballah's military wing has enabled substantial
and important cooperation between United States and European authorities
aimed at uncovering and thwarting Hizballah's international criminal
activities, such as drug trafficking and money laundering, the proceeds
of which are used to purchase weapons and advance Hizballah's terrorist
aims;
Whereas the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 (Public Law
114-102) was signed into law in December 2015, broadening financial
sector sanctions against Hizballah to compel foreign financial
institutions to refrain from supporting the terrorist group;
Whereas in February 2016, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and
U.S. Customs and Border Protection partnered with counterparts in
France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium to arrest top leaders of the
European cell of Hizballah's External Security Organization Business
Affairs Component, which engages in international money laundering and
drug trafficking to support Hizballah's terror activities;
Whereas for many years, Iran and Syria have been the prime sponsors of
Hizballah, by harboring, financing, training, and arming the terrorist
group;
Whereas according to the Department of State's Country Reports on Terrorism,
Iran has armed Hizballah, provided hundreds of millions of dollars in
support of Hizballah, and trained thousands of its fighters;
Whereas Hizballah now has an arsenal of approximately 150,000 missiles and
rockets, many of which can reach deep into Israel, at a time when
Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah is threatening to invade
Galilee or attack civilian Israeli chemical plants to generate mass
destruction;
Whereas while the EU confronts the migrant crisis sparked by violence in Syria,
6,000 to 8,000 Hizballah fighters have been on the ground in Syria
aiding the Assad regime in its slaughter of innocent Syrians;
Whereas the Lebanese Armed Forces, the legitimate security establishment of the
country as set forth in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701
(2006), are struggling to control the flow of weapons and Hizballah
fighters at its borders;
Whereas Hizballah trains and provides weapons for armed groups in Iraq and
Yemen, further destabilizing the region and perpetuating violence in
those countries;
Whereas in October 2012, Hizballah Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem stated
that Hizballah does not ``have a military wing and a political one . . .
Every element of Hizballah, from commanders to members as well as our
various capabilities, are in the service of the resistance'';
Whereas the United States, Canada, Israel, and the Netherlands have designated
Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization, while Australia
and New Zealand have applied the designation to the organization's
military wing;
Whereas in March 2016, the Gulf Cooperation Council, composed of Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates,
formally branded Hizballah, in its entirety, a terrorist organization,
and the League of Arab States shortly thereafter adopted the same
designation; and
Whereas in April 2016, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, denounced
Hizballah's ``terrorist acts'' in the Middle East: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) expresses appreciation to the EU for the progress made
in countering Hizballah since the EU designated Hizballah's
military wing as a terrorist organization;
(2) expresses support for the continued, increased
cooperation between the United States and the EU in thwarting
Hizballah's criminal and terrorist activities; and
(3) urges the EU to designate Hizballah in its entirety as
a terrorist organization and increase pressure on the group,
including through--
(A) facilitating better cross-border cooperation
between EU members in combating Hizballah;
(B) issuing arrest warrants against members and
active supporters of Hizballah;
(C) freezing Hizballah's assets in Europe,
including those masquerading as charities; and
(D) prohibiting fundraising activities in support
of Hizballah.
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