The 17th century political philosopher John Locke observed that a "definition being nothing but making another understand by words what the term 'defined' stand for."
Unfortunately, Locke's truism has evaded the reality of what constitutes "terrorism." The major reason for the failure of the international community to reach a consensus on the meaning of the term, stems from the fact that every state reserves to itself the political, moral and legal authority to define "terrorism" in the context of perceived national interests.

Consider the case of Hezbollah, the movement dedicated to the removal through violence of all non-Islamic influences in the Middle East as well as the global exportation of Iran's revolution, aspiring to establish an Islamic republic governed by Shiite Islamic law (Ja'fri Sharia).

Founded in 1982, Hezbollah quickly became the vanguard of terrorist groups operating within Lebanon, responsible for nearly 90 percent of the attacks on international peacekeepers, foreign forces, diplomats, journalists, and ordinary civilians in the country.

In the 1990s Hezbollah expanded its networks not only in the Middle East but also in dozens of countries around the world. These linkages included informal and formal frameworks such as theological alliances; propaganda and psychological warfare activities; fund raising efforts; recruitment of new members; intelligence operations; weapons purchases; training, and mounting terrorist attacks.

Even after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon in June 2000, Hezbollah confirmed its "armed struggle" against the Jewish state, including sniper and rocket attack on military bases and civilian target along the border. In July 2006, Hezbollah members killed three Israeli Defense Forces soldiers and kidnapped two others within Israel proper, triggering a swift response from the Israeli Defense Forces that resulted in a month-long war between the antagonists. Hezbollah perceived this "second Lebanese war" as a "historic victory."

Now, two years later, considering Iran's continued supply of a wide variety of arms for Hezbollah, the likelihood of a deployment of arms of mass destruction in a new confrontation with Israel is a particular concern.

Make no mistakes. Apprehension over Hezbollah's terrorists operations concerning European interests has a long history. It includes the bombing of the French contingent in Lebanon (1983); the attack on the French Embassy in Kuwait (1983) and the bombing of a restaurant in Madrid (1985).

Open with and classified intelligence information, reveal that currently Hezbollah poses not only a threat to EU soldiers deployed in Iraq and with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) but also to Europe itself.

For instance, Hezbollah has developed an elaborate network of fundraising and support cells in Europe, which have the potential to be transformed to operational squads capable of attacking member states.

In the interim, Hezbollah has intensified television broadcasting into Europe, of anti-Western hatred and violence glorifying suicide bombers and exploiting Koranic verses to justify jihad (holy war) against their adversaries. It also cooperates with terrorist groups on the EU terrorism list, such as Hamas.

And yet, the unending debate in Europe over whether Hezbollah is a terrorist group or a legitimate political party represented in the Lebanese government is undermining regional and inter-regional efforts to deal with this specific security challenge effectively.

The good news however, is that already six European countries including the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have listed Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Other states such as Germany and France have taken some legal actions in this connection.

In sum, the European Union is committed to preventing and combating terrorism and to providing the protection of its citizens. An important step in this direction is to update the definition of "terrorism" (e.g. public incitement to commit violent offences and to circulate information on how to make bombs) as well as to urge member states to include Hezbollah on the EU terror list.

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Yonah Alexander is a contributing editor of the Middle East Times and director of the International Center for Terrorism Studies, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies (Arlington, VA). Julie Tegho is a Lebanese studying at Georgetown University. She conducted the research for this article.