The House Foreign Affairs Committee announced that this coming Thursday it will vote on legislation that tightens sanctions against the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah. H.R. 3329 enjoys wide bipartisan support and was introduced by the Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) along with Ranking Democrat on Committee, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY). The bill restricts Hezbollah’s ability to fundraise and recruit by cracking down on foreign states that do business with the Lebanese terror group, including Iran, while increasing pressure on banks that service Hezbollah.
[This story originally appeared on jewishinsider.com]
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced a companion anti-Hezbollah legislation in the Senate. The bill is still sitting in the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
AIPAC has placed the Hezbollah sanctions bills on its legislative priorities list for 2017. In addition to fighting a bloody war with Israel in 2006, Hezbollah has repeatedly launchedstrikes at Jewish and Israeli civilian targets worldwide.
“Congress must close any possible loophole that could allow foreign funding of Hezbollah. Acting swiftly—and in a bipartisan manner—will show Hezbollah’s foreign sponsors that the United States will not sit by while Hezbollah grows stronger,” Engel said in a statement.
Additionally, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will also markup a bill on Thursday that condemns Hezbollah for its usage of civilian shields during warfare, while imposing sanctions on individuals who are involved in this practice.
