A Thursday report by Declassified UK touched on Britain’s terrorism ban on all parts of Hezbollah, stressing that it came after intense lobbying by pro-"Israel" groups within Westminster, according to a former UK foreign minister and Tory peers. 

The report explains that Hezbollah’s External Security Organisation and its military wing had already been proscribed in the 2000s. But in 2019, Theresa May’s government decided to proscribe the group in its entirety on the basis that it was “no longer tenable to distinguish between the military and political wings of Hezbollah”.

Just a year earlier May’s cabinet had defended the distinction and refused to ban Hezbollah’s political wing, which holds ministerial posts in Lebanon’s government, Declassified said, highlighting that the policy shifted once Sajid Javid, a staunchly pro-"Israel" MP, became home secretary.

That said, Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely had called Javid “a very special friend” and said his “friendship is one of the greatest things that happened for the Israel-UK relationship”.

‘It took us ages with Hezbollah’

Declassified UK continues that the ban on Hezbollah in the UK has been a contentious issue due to the group's significant political role in Lebanon, a country with ties with the UK. However, the Conservative government ultimately decided to impose the ban under pressure from pro-“Israel” groups. 

Lord Stuart Polak of the Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI), in an interview in August 2023, referring to the push to proscribe Iran’s IRGC, said, “I think what we need to do is just pure lobbying action.”

He added, “It will happen and I think a number of people have said it’s just how long it takes for it to happen. It took us ages with Hezbollah. Again, why? Because I think it’s just easier for civil servants not to change.”

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He indicated that strong lobbying efforts were necessary for the ban to take effect, reflecting the influence of CFI, which claims membership from 80% of Tory MPs, according to Declassified UK. 

The report recalled that during the debate on Hezbollah's proscription in February 2019, Polak emphasized the importance of this decision, criticizing then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

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'Efforts against Hezbollah'

The ban on Hezbollah received strong backing from several MPs affiliated with Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), who aimed to prevent the group's flag from being displayed during a pro-Palestine march in London. 

During the 2019 Commons debate, LFI chair Joan Ryan credited herself for raising the issue and commended MP Louise Ellman for her efforts in securing the ban, labeling Hezbollah as an “anti-semitic terror group”.

Both were vocal critics of Jeremy Corbyn, with Ryan resigning from Labour days prior due to alleged anti-Semitism in the party. 

While Corbyn's front bench remained silent on the ban, some politicians, like Crispin Blunt, cautioned against it, noting Hezbollah's significant support within Lebanon's governing coalition. He emphasized the need for engagement with Hezbollah, despite its controversial status.

'Influence of the Israel lobby on Hezbollah'

The report detailed that Sir Alan Duncan, the former UK foreign minister for the Americas and Europe, noted in his diaries the significant influence of the “Israel” lobby on the Hezbollah proscription in the UK parliament.

In June 2018, he documented then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid's intention to ban Hezbollah, emphasizing that while the group’s violent actions deserve condemnation, maintaining dialogue through its political wing is essential for resolving historical issues, as reported by Declassified UK.

He likened this situation to the UK's experience with Sinn Féin during the Troubles, suggesting that banning Hezbollah's political wing would close off communication channels.

Later, in September 2018, Duncan recounted a conversation with then-Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who hinted at agreeing to the Home Office's proposal to proscribe Hezbollah, according to Declassified. 

Duncan expressed concern that this decision aligned with the agendas of US and Israeli officials like Netanyahu and Kushner, potentially compromising vital intelligence relationships in Lebanon while aiming to maintain a strong position against Iran and support the Iran nuclear deal.

‘Nutty mania’

According to Declassified UK, during the period of the Hezbollah proscription, the British government faced tensions with the Trump administration over the Iran nuclear deal, which the US sought to dismantle, with Jared Kushner notably opposing Iran. 

Sir Alan Duncan reflected on this in his diary, expressing concern that the UK was conceding too much to the US without receiving gratitude in return. He characterized this dynamic as detrimental to British integrity, the report explained. 

As stated by Declassified, on February 26, 2019, the "Israel" lobby achieved its objective as Sajid Javid announced the ban on Hezbollah, which Duncan mockingly noted was labeled as a terrorist group. He criticized Javid for appearing inarticulate and overly influenced by the CFI, while also observing that key figures like Lord Stuart Polak and Eric Pickles were present, celebrating their lobbying successes.

Despite the overwhelming support for the ban, not all pro-"Israel" politicians agreed with it. Labour’s Lord Glasman, a member of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI), contested Polak’s views, arguing that Hezbollah had evolved significantly over the past two decades, becoming a major political player in Lebanon with considerable electoral support. 

He cautioned against isolating Hezbollah, suggesting it would be unwise to cut off potential dialogue and negotiation avenues, according to Declassified.