EU adds Hamas to list of terrorist organizations

The European Union member states yesterday decided to list the political wing of the Hamas movement on the European list of "terrorist organizations."

However, the decision does not include charity organizations linked to the movement; this, due to the French efforts which succeeded against those who opposed this step.

Taking this decision will be conducive to freezing all assets of Hamas in the European Union during the meeting of the ambassadors of the EU 15 member states in Brussels yesterday. Diplomats said that the decision which will be subjected to a written consent -- is expected to be enforced immediately as from publishing the amended list of the European official magazine tomorrow.

Ezz Eddine al-Qassam groups, the military wing of the Hamas movement has been on the European list of "terrorist organizations" since the beginning of reactivation of this list by the end of 2001.

Since the Palestinian attack operation which took place in Jerusalem on August 19, both the US and Israel put strong pressure against the European Union so as to cut any source for financing for the Hamas movement and to include all departments of the movement on "its black list."