European Court Orders Hamas' Removal from Terror List

Hamas must be taken off the European Union's terrorist list, a court ordered Wednesday, finding that it was not based on direct evidence of Hamas action.

EU officials downplayed the ruling, with a statement from the EU External Action Service saying it "is clearly based on procedural grounds and it does not imply an assessment by the Court of the substantive reasons for the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization."

EU institutions were examining the ruling and "will decide on the options open to them," the statement said. "They will, in due course, take appropriate remedial action, including any eventual appeal to the ruling. In case of an appeal the restrictive measures remain in place."

The General Court of the European Union, the EU's second highest court, said that the freeze on Hamas' assets will stay in place for three months to allow time for further review or to appeal the decision. The Quartet, which includes the EU, prohibits any engagement with Hamas until renounces terrorism, recognizes Israel, and accepts prior Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement rejecting the EU's rationale and demanded immediate action to correct the problem:

"We are not satisfied with the European Union's explanation that the removal of Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations is a 'technical matter'. The burden of proof is on the European Union and we expect it to put Hamas back on the list forthwith given that it is understood by all that Hamas - a murderous terrorist organization, the covenant of which specifies the destruction of Israel as its goal - is an inseparable part of this list. We will continue to fight Hamas with strength and determination so that it never achieves this goal."

Hamas is recognized as terrorist organization by the United States, Canada, and other Western nations. It continues to plot attacks targeting Israeli civilians.

At same time the EU claims the delisting of Hamas is a mere "procedural" matter, the European Parliament backed the recognition of a Palestinian state "in principle," after multiple votes in EU member states, the Times of Israel reports.

The resolution accepts "in principle recognition of Palestinian statehood and the two state solution, and believes these should go hand in hand with the development of peace talks, which should be advanced" and passed overwhelmingly.

Reader comments on this item

Hamas is a very important and useful instrument to use against the State of Israel.

Submitted by Joseph, Dec 20, 2014 13:21

You must admit that Israel responded ONLY after the attacks of the Hamas terrorists. All these innocent victims from Gaza (women and children) you can put on the ACCOUNT of the terrorist organization called Hamas. For sure, their "militants" (who militate ONLY for the destruction of the State of Israel) received weapons and salaries from their brothers who have the 'same ideal'. Also, their being called "militants" in the mass media is a very important logistical support for Hamas. For Hamas the number of Palestinian victims is not important. They want as many victims as possible for a few minutes of images on CNN, BBC etc. For these "militants" Life has no value, but Death, YES!

The duplicity of the European Onion

Submitted by SFTOBEY, Dec 17, 2014 17:55

This is what happens when sovereign nations give up their sovereignty to an un-elected and unaccountable "mega-state" bureaucracy. They now control what - or whom - you can determine is an enemy. Lovely, just lovely. And our globalist oligarch "masters" want the United States to become part of this circle jerk? Sorry. Not just no, but HELL NO! (Remember the SPP? It has not died. It - and all of the relevant "working groups" - have simply "gone underground".)

Hamas - Terrorist Organization

Dec 17, 2014 13:49

I suppose the next European Court agenda item is to nominate ISIS (ISIL), Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban for the next Nobel Peace Prize. And while they're at it, give an unconditional pardon to Hezbollah.

Who won the cold war?

Submitted by Dieter, Dec 17, 2014 12:58

hamas is not terrorist. Somali pirates have to be paid compensation. European and now even the US border seems to have been demolished, the only secure border in Europe is Russia's. And you say the West won against the very communism that's now ruling triumphantly.

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