These measures indicate that Western governments are aware of the danger Hezbollah poses to Western security. Nevertheless, for reasons of appeasement they refuse to take the necessary action to declare the organization a terrorist group – a classification which would allow the blocking of Hezbollah funds and the seizure of its assets.
Meanwhile, one can only hope that the new government in the Netherlands, in which the pro-Palestinian Labor Party is likely to participate, does not reverse the current Dutch policies. The courageous stance of the past Dutch government and its willingness to face the facts, has led to a more realistic view on the part of ordinary Dutch citizens regarding politics in the Middle East. A recent poll showed that the Dutch are far more positive towards Israel than they were nine years ago. In 2003, 71% of the Dutch regarded Israel as a “threat to world peace,” while today this percentage has dwindled to 35%, with 36% regarding the Palestinian Authority as a threat to peace.
Originally published by the Gatestone Institute under the title “Kick Me: European Union Backs Iran’s Hezbollah.”