European Union foreign ministers decided on Saturday to take the first step towards outlawing the political wing of Hamas as a "terrorist" organization, diplomats said.
They said the ministers had agreed to ask a group of intelligence services from all 25 EU members and future member states to examine the Palestinian group and make recommendations, the AP reported.
Diplomats said the EU was edging closer to putting political branches of Hamas on the EU's "terrorist" list. It declared Hamas' military wing - a "terrorist" organization in December 2001.
Britain, Germany and the Netherlands favor widening the Hamas blacklisting. (Albawaba.com)
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