US designates PIJ official as global militants

 The State Department announced on Thursday that it has designated Ziyad al-Nakhalah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under an executive order that targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. Ziyad al-Nakhalah is the deputy secretary general of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a group that was designated by the State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 1997.PIJ's openly stated goal is the destruction of Israel. Since its inception, PIJ has carried out numerous attacks, including large-scale suicide bombings against Israeli civilian and military targets, the announcement noted. PIJ attacks have also killed Americans abroad, and PIJ receives financial assistance and training primarily from Iran, it said.The State Department strongly condemned the Tel Aviv bus bombing conducted by PIJ last month as a "deplorable violent act targeting civilians." Publicly, Ziyad has repeatedly taken credit for attacks against Israel. For example, Ziyad took credit for PIJ's indiscriminate missile attacks into Israel in 2011, 2009 and 2008, the announcement said.Ziyad has also cultivated strong relations with the government of Iran, it said.In 2012, Ziyad emphasized the importance of expanding and improving relations with Hamas, another designated FTO. For example, in October 2012, PIJ announced that it had joined forces with Hamas to carry out attacks against Israel. Shortly thereafter, PIJ and Hamas claimed responsibility for firing at least 50 mortar shells into Israel the day before that announcement, the department noted."The consequences of this designation include a prohibition against U.S. persons engaging in transactions with Ziyad al-Nakhalah, and the freezing of all property and interests of Ziyad al-Nakhalah that are in the United States, or come within the United States or the possession or control of U.S. persons, " the announcement said. The State Department took this action in consultation with the departments of Justice and Treasury, it said.