Allister attacks Hezbollah
06 September 2006
Speaking in the keynote debate in Strasbourg on the Middle East, DUP MEP Jim Allister strongly attacked Hezbollah and called for no "dodging or diluting" of the UN mandate requiring it to be disarmed. Pointing out the folly of Hezbollah having being admitted to the Government of Lebanon which a fully fledged terrorist organisation, Mr Allister drew some parallels with Northern Ireland.
In the course of his remarks the Ulster Euro MP said:-
"I do not endorse every act of Israel, but I am in no doubt that in the recent conflict it was not the aggressor and was entitled, as a sovereign state, to defend itself against sustained and murderous rocket attacks by Hezbollah. The fact that Hezbollah, supplied by Iran and Syria, was able to act as it did while part of the Government of Lebanan, illustrates the folly of admitting to government any terrorist-orientated organisation, be it in Lebanan, Palestine or Northern Ireland.
In Israel the level of sustained assault was such that a powerful response was necessary. Now the challenge of the future is to disarm Hezbollah. I trust that critical part of the mandate will not be dodged or diluted. Otherwise, as was foolishly done in Northern Ireland through allowing Sinn Fein into government without decommissioning, we merely store up more trouble for the future."
