The United States is requesting from Europe the categorization of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Whether or not Europe supports the US in its request is a particularly sensitive issue. Most European countries have troops deployed in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south of the country, which is a Hezbollah stronghold and the gravitational center for its popular bases. There are concerns that in the event the European Union categorizes Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, the European troops deployed will find their stay in southern Lebanon fraught with tension.
Most believe that if the decision were left to the leaders of the military units within UNIFIL, they would take a position that differs from the one now prevailing in most of the foreign ministries of EU countries. This reflects the fact that there is a fundamental difference between the political leadership engaged on the ground, and those that are formulating policy from afar. Perhaps the surprise killing of the US ambassador in Benghazi at the hands of the rebels aided their arrival to power, which reflects the disconnect between international politics and the details of the political reality in the Middle East.
While EU foreign officials appear puzzled regarding Hezbollah’s categorization, it would be worth their while to listen to the military units, intelligence and civilian personnel within UNIFIL who have been working for nearly a decade in areas under Hezbollah’s influence in southern Lebanon. They have a detailed knowledge of Hezbollah’s operations in Lebanon and of the ramifications the decision would have on European interests in the region. More importantly, they know if there is an opening to establish a dialogue with Hezbollah that might allow them to possibly end hostilities.
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