Israeli president Shimon Peres speaking at ceremony honoring Joseph Trumpeldor on February 21, 2013. Photo: Mark Neyman/GPO

Speaking at a state ceremony honoring early Zionist activist Joseph Trumpeldor, who died 93 years ago, Israeli President Shimon Peres called on the European Union to designate the Lebanese-based Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

“On our border, in Lebanon, Nasrallah [Hezbollah’s leader], wrapped in a cloak of religiosity, is pushing Lebanon into a bloody war. It is time to call Hezbollah what it really is – a murderous terror organization. The United States of America and other countries have already included Hezbollah in its list of terrorist organizations. Now, after it has been proved that Hezbollah was behind the terror attack in Bulgaria, on European soil, and murdered innocent civilians, and as reports increase of its involvement, along with Iran, in attacks in Cyprus and Nigeria, the time has come for every country in the world, and especially the European Union, to add Hezbollah to its list of terror organizations,” he said.

Peres addressed turmoil in the Middle East, adding that while Israel seeks peace, it will do what is necessary to defend itself from threats in the region: “Israel has always sought peace, a country seeking to put out the flames. We are saddened by the suffering of millions of innocent people, they are the victims, the refugees, the homeless and hungry, we are willing to extend our hand in humanitarian support if called upon. We must also remain vigilant of the flow of weapons from Syria to Lebanon,” he said, adding, “Terror against Israel will not achieve its aims but the opposite, it harms its instigators. We still face grave dangers but we will overcome them just as we overcame dangers before.”

Israel has made a concerted push to have the European Union classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization since Bulgarian authorities determined the organization was behind a suicide attack in that country last summer that left six dead, including five Israelis. Thus far only the Netherlands considers the group a terrorist organization in the EU. The United States has already designated the Shiite organization as terrorist.