Vienna — Austria has become the latest country to ban Hezbollah in its entirety, rather than just its military wing. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said: “This is a very clear signal. This step reflects reality.” “The group itself makes no distinction between the military and political arm.” “is a serious threat to the stability in the region,” Schallenberg added Currently, the European Union (EU) has designated Hezbollah‘s military wing, not its political wing, which countries argue are inseparable. Austria joins other European countries that have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization with stricter designations than those issued by the EU such as Estonia, Germany, and The Netherlands. The decision comes at a time when conflicts between Palestinians and Israelis have intensified into violence after Israeli settlers forcibly expelled Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah. Australia has also decided this week to reconsider its stance on Hezbollah, after the United States sanctioned 7 Lebanese for links to Hezbollah and its financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan. — Agencies