A campaign has been launched in the UK calling for the new government under Theresa May to ban Hezbollah in the country after flags of the Lebanese terror group were waved recently during anti-Israel rallies despite complaints to police.

Britain, like the European Union, makes a distinction between Hezbollah’s military branch, which is classified as a terrorist organization, an its political wing, while such a distinction even doesn’t exist within the organization.

Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, said: “The fact that Hezbollah flags were seen to be flown at a rally in London without police intervention is truly shocking. Flying the Hezbollah flag is illegal, they are a terrorist organisation that promotes anti-Semitism, and the police should use their powers to stop this message of hate.

“The Mayor has promised a ‘zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism’, and I will be urging him to take these flags off London’s streets,” he said.

In 2013, using powers granted by Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, two men were arrested for displaying Hezbollah flags. Badenoch called for the London Police to exercise these arrest powers whenever these flags are seen.

The Zionist Federation and the Jewish News newspaper and online magazine urged Theresa May and her government to crack down on any public displays of support for Hezbollah on the streets of the UK.

They called the new government to make it clear that any repeat of scenes at the Al Quds Day rally two weeks ago when Hezbollah flags were openly waved on the streets of London will not be tolerated.

In response to the call, London Mayor Sadiq Khan insisted he is confident police will “thoroughly” investigate their use in a London rally earlier this month.

He told The Jewish News: “I understand the concerns of the Jewish community, and the distress these flags cause many Londoners.

“It would not be appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing police investigation, but the police know how seriously I take this issue and I am confident they will thoroughly investigate the events of July 3.

“I will continue to work closely with the Commissioner to make sure reports of this kind are taken very seriously.”

Hezbollah was linked to a terror attack against a bus of Israeli tourists in Burgas, Bulgaria, an EU member state. Five Israelis and the bus driver were killed. An indictment was filed this week against two Lebanese nationals with terrorism for their involvement in the attack.