Senate Presses White House To Sanction Funders of Hezbollah Satellite Channel

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WASHINGTON – Lawmakers are pressing for the White House to sanction any banks, individuals, or groups associated with Hezbollah’s satellite TV channel, al-Manar.


Last week, the Senate passed a unanimous resolution calling on President Bush to place the television station on what is known as the Specially Designated Global Terrorists list, a set of entities and individuals that can be targeted by the Treasury Department with financial sanctions. That designation is tougher than the Terror Exclusion List, on which the government currently lists al-Manar.


“Viewed via satellite throughout the Muslim world, al-Manar promotes suicide attacks against American and Israeli targets, and encourages Iraqi insurgents to attack U.S. troops,” Senator Nelson, a Democrat of Florida, said Thursday. “It includes particularly shocking children’s programming, aimed at shaping the beliefs and values of the next generation of Muslim youth.”


The decision to target al-Manar comes as the station is exploring ways to broadcast its programming in North America. The Iranian Student News Agency on October 10 quoted a spokesman for Iran’s Hezbollah as saying: “We are presently holding talks with satellite TV channels for airing our programs. So far, we have received proposals and members of Hezbollah’s Central Council will announce their final decision in the near future.” The quote was translated by a Washington based group, the Middle East Media Research Institute.


The State Department last December designated al-Manar as a terrorist organization. Also last year the French government took steps to shut off the station’s broadcasts, citing violations of its laws regulating public speech.


The station in the past has aired a documentary during the month long religious holiday of Ramadan depicting the Zionist movement as a secretive cabal that conspired with the Nazis to commit genocide against the Jews. That serial is being rebroadcast by the station this Ramadan.


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