J Street applauds introduction of legislation to strengthen sanctions targeting Hezbollah

April 11, 2014

J Street’s Director of Government Affairs Dylan Williams issued the following statement in support of new legislation to strengthen sanctions aimed at Hezbollah:

J Street applauds the introduction of the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act, H.R.4411, by Representatives Mark Meadows (R-NC-11), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) and House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA-39) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY-16).

Hezbollah’s record of terrorism against the United States, Israel, their allies and thousands of people in the Middle East and beyond is as clear as it is outrageous. Its heinous, inexcusable acts of violence acts have targeted and killed innocent people in every hemisphere. Responding to and preventing such attacks is more than a US national security necessity, it is a moral imperative.

That is why J Street worked with Congress to encourage the European Union to join the United States in designating the military wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. And it is why J Street is eager to work with H.R.4411’s sponsors and the administration to target, frustrate and deplete Hezbollah’s financing, while maintaining and strengthening other US efforts to enhance security and stability in a region with many complex and inter-connected conflicts.