Update: On December 17, the U.S. State Department placed Al-Manar on the Terrorist Exclusion List, which denies access to the U.S. to employees of the network who are not citizens.  ADL subsequently urged the United States to designate Al-Manar as a foreign terrorist organization.

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New York, NY, December 16, 2004 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed reports that the U.S. is about to designate Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV station as a global terrorist organization, barring dealings with the station by American business.  While Hezbollah itself is already a designated terror group, ADL called on the U.S. in July 2003 to apply the same designation to Al-Manar, which is directly linked to and openly solicits funds for Hezbollah.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

"We commend the U.S. action against Al-Manar, Hezbollah's notorious instrument in support of terror. In order to effectively combat terror, we must isolate the political, communications, and social service activity groups use to fundraise, recruit, and incite terrorism.

"The State Department's action is a welcome step which falls squarely within the mandate of U.S. law against providing material support for terror, which includes providing technological assistance and other services. Yet, there is more that can be done to impair the activity of Al-Manar, a dangerous wing of the Hezbollah terror apparatus."

We call on the U.S. government to build on this action and utilize all available tools to limit Al-Manar's reach:

• Move immediately to enforce the law and close Al-Manar's Washington bureau.
  
• Urge U.S.-based satellite and Internet providers to cease offering Al-Manar and all  activities that facilitate and support its broadcast. In addition, the government and all  concerned should encourage foreign satellite package providers to remove Al-Manar  from their networks.
  
• Enforce the ban on doing business with Al-Manar, such as commercial advertising, disseminating programs, or buying its footage.
  
• Use its authority to sanction foreign banks doing business with Al-Manar and any American financial institutions that serve as agents for Al-Manar's banks.
  
• Have the Foreign Terrorist Asset Tracking Center investigate those bank accounts advertised on Al-Manar fundraising commercials.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.